Day Eleven

Today we got on a tour bus at 8:30 AM to go to Lwandle township about 45 minutes away. We went to the museum that they erected in an old community center and then we walked around and saw what the "hostels" looked like that they lived in. We also saw the modern day housing and the conditions that the people are living in. 

Now, it was brought up a couple of times today that people were uncomfortable taking pictures of people's homes because it's not really the nicest thing to do, but I took some pictures so I can remember what I saw. I don't want to forget anything I've seen here, especially something like this because it's part of what this developing country is about. With many other places in the country, they are working to make things better for these people post-apartheid.
Personally, I believe that the people living there may want the rest of the world to know the hardships that they have faced and still do. People who come to visit may come back and volunteer to build houses, they donate money to the community centers that their children participate in activities at. I think that taking pictures and educating other people is part of the way that these things get fixed. Pictures of the damage from hurricane katrina, or from tsunamis, etc. make it real and make people want to help. So anyway, I am going to give you a run down of what I learned today using my pictures: 

Little girl playing in the street. Behind her, an old hostel made into family homes. On top of the homes are solar panels which helps the houses to be able to have hot water. 

 When things started to get renovated, people were really worried that they wouldn't benefit from it and get a house. They thought it was wasteful to make a museum out of somewhere that could be their house.

 Sometimes up to 12 or 14 people would live in this one space. It was very cramped and there was no privacy

 A "shebeen" where they used to sell and drink beer

 Sign fo the prices of beer

 A row of family homes that used to be hostels

 All of the houses made out of one hostel share one shower and toilet, and share one tap outside of the structure where they get their water

 A restaurant in Lwandle

 A doctor's office

 Rows of shacks within the boundaries of Lwandle

Informal settlements on the side of the highway.

So, again, I think it's important that people know about these conditions so they can join the effort to help the people living here. A government, which is supposed to help and protect the people, forced people into these terrible conditions and it is difficult for people and their children to turn it around, come out the other side and make a good life for themselves.