Posted by Priscilla Macy on May 17, 2010
Written by GSGC member Kartr Johnson
“What’s behind the wall?” This question surfaced throughout our visit to Cape Town. It represented many things, but in particular the realization that opportunity and hope may lie beneath the surface of any picture, regardless of the outward impression. We were continually amazed by the resiliency, entrepreneurship and cooperation of the people we encountered in South Africa, and nowhere were these traits more evident than Jikelaza.
At Jikelaza children are taught to dance, but look behind the wall and you’ll find dance being effectively used as a vehicle to teach responsibility, respect, acceptance, and above all hope. The base idea is that if children come to Jikelaza after school to learn to dance they aren’t on the streets, but much more is happening.
The staff and instructors at Jikelaza are keenly aware of the challenges children in the townships are facing and the goal is to educate and support the children to help them avoid the pitfalls. Young women benefit from the program in particular, as the staff addresses teen-pregnancy and low self-esteem issues, which many young women in the community fall prey to. Staying in school is a requirement to attend Jikelaza. Workshops and performances expose the children to people and places they would never otherwise come in contact with, and broaden their perspective of life in the process. The school is also beginning to bring formerly disparate communities together by bringing their children together.
So much is being taught at Jikelaza that one might leave forgetting about the dancing, which is as creative and full of life as the staff and students. Graduates of the school have gone on to professional dance companies and to university. Some have returned to teach at the school, helping Jikelaza’s efforts to break a cycle of despair for children in the community. We left the school inspired and impressed by the idea, the progress being made, and the people we met.
Posted by Priscilla Macy on November 24, 2009
Addison Schonland of IAG interviewed a few GSGC travelers. Hear about their experiences, what makes these trips so special and how the GS Giving Circle got started.
Posted by Priscilla Macy on October 12, 2009
For an overview of this year’s GSGC trip to Southern Africa, read below and check out the summary on the Global Sojourns website.
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 31, 2009
GSGC travelers in front of Table Mt.
Talking to some of the Jikeleza students after class
Visitng MonkeyBiz, a local workshop for disadvantaged women
Posted by Priscilla Macy on
Students sponsored by GSGC
Visiting a student's home
Jikeleza dancer
Jekeleza students waiting to dance
Edmund, director of Jikeleza
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 27, 2009
Correspondent Paige
We are on our way home! To see what we have seen and to experience what we have been given the opportunity to experience will stay with me always!
The children we have met along the way have been extraordinary. They have an inner light that shines especially as we have seen when they dance.
Capetown is a vibrant city and we saw so much in a very short time. We met many individuals who are making such a difference in the lives of many people who just need a hand up not a hand out!
Cape Town
I feel very good about the dolls that we brought with us and all the underwear will go to very deserving little children. The money from class donations will go toward building a preschool in Dwambe in Livingston, Zambia. All of our families helped make this possible. There is much more to be done but I am leaving feeling so honored to be part of such an experience.
I loved seeing all the animals in the wild! (And yes Giancarlo, I did see baby elephants– so many I couldn’t count them!)
I will continue to share my thoughts. Right now it is time to say good-bye and get on the plane!
See you in the States! Thank you Africa!
Paige
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 26, 2009
View of Table Mt. and typical living conditions
Jikeleza Dancers
Hiking to see the views over the city
Posted by Priscilla Macy on
Correspondent Britt
Believe it or not, tonight is our last night in Africa. We’re here at the Welgelegen guest house in Cape Town, South Africa, finishing up a special cheesecake dessert, our little thank you present for Priscilla! What a trip it has been! Monday morning, we met up with James Fernie, who runs Uthando, a non-profit which funds community organizations empowering people of the townships to help lift them out of poverty and provides eye-opening tours for visitors who want to see the “other” side of Cape Town. He took us through the townships of Guguletu and Khayelitsha introducing us to 3 inspiring projects and their leaders. We first saw Place of Hope, a shelter for prostitutes and victims of domestic abuse, followed by a visit to an Abalimi organic farm project in which women from the township grew vegetables both for their family’s consumption and for commercial profit. On the surface we could see that the crops were healthy and varied, but the real accomplishment in my eyes was that the Khayelitsha women had really become strong, skilled breadwinners through this program – and in such sandy barren ground!!
Our final project visit that day was to the Volcano Arts Project, a theater and dance program for the youth of the townships which performs social awareness pieces on various topics to schools and now prisons in the community. Volcano, the man who started the program and teaches the young performers all he knows, was vibrant and fun – such a treat to see his group dance and act!!
View from Table MT.
After our township tour, we took the cable car up to the top of table mountain and hiked around for about 2 hours taking in the gorgeous panoramic views all around Cape Town, False bay and Table Bay. We finished the day with dinner with the leadership of Jikeleza, one of the organizations that the Giving Circle supports which empowers children by teaching them to dance and putting them through leadership workshops. We saw SO much enthusiasm in Edmund (the founder) and the indispensible, multitasking women working by his side, Renée and Marilyn. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 22, 2009
Today we were treated to a Zig Zag community bake sale. The proceeds of the sale are given to charity.
Market Stall in Dambwa
Sam picked us up in the bus at 10:30 and took us to a market in Dambwa, a township in Livingstone. We visited the recipients of the micro loans. They sell sour milk, dried fish, sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes and other various local produce. It is inspiring to see these individuals working hard and making a very meager living. Walking around the market gave us an inside look into daily life. 
Next we visited the Livingstone Museum (We were tourists for the moment) and the local market to buy souvenirs. We defiantly did not enjoy bargaining back and forth with the locals.
The highlight of the day was the surprise trip Priscilla planned for us to Livingstone Island in the middle of the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls. WOW! A motor boat picked us up at the Royal Livingstone hotel. We rode for 5 minutes and got up close and personal to the falls. When we disembarked we were given a local drink made of mashed corn flavored with strawberries. After a toast we headed to the gathering place of a tent beautifully set for tea. The guide led us to the edge of the falls, one by one. He held on tight as we looked over the edge! Another WOW! Breathtaking to stand in such a place where the forces of nature overwhelmed all our senses! Some crazy people even go swimming above the falls! After we walked a bit we headed back for high tea with quiches, mini sandwiches and pastries. We ate while enjoying the view of the falls. Priscilla even used the ”loo with a view!” To finish off the evening we sat at the hotel with sun downers on the edge of the Zambezi River watching the sunset. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
- Anne & Paige
Megan makes it back to safety
Posted by Priscilla Macy on August 21, 2009
08/21/09
Correspondent Anne
On Friday afternoon we visited the new pediatric hospital. The sign out front says it was built by the American People. Nurse Rose gave us the tour. There are isolation wards for children with TB and meningitis. The other wards were for malaria and non contagious diseases. We gave a bag full of comfort dolls for these children to cuddle as they receive treatment.
Later Diane and I went with Ernest and Arisius to visit 2 of the sick clients they visit as part of the home health care program. Both of these women suffered from recurring TB. One also has had meningitis and malaria over the past 4 years, making her bedridden. Therapy for strengthening her legs is free, but it costs $6.00 for the transport each way and she does not have the money for that. Seeing this left me emotionally spent. We are helping in a small way with our donation of stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs. What more can we do, should we do? There is so much need everywhere. It is truly overwhelming.
But… the spirit of the children that we accompanied to Victoria Falls today was uplifting and inspiring. For children who have so little, they gave us so much.
- Anne
