Today we were led by a few members of the community on a bike tour in Soweto, an informal settlement in South Africa. The homes were set up very close together and built mostly out of storage containers, and the streets were filled with people. We had a conversation about whether or not there were laws or if anyone followed the laws. Although there are laws in these cities, the people are lawless in a rebellion towards the government. We saw this in Soweto with driving as well as the piles of trash that surrounded it. The people of this community let trash pile up because the government refuses to probably dispose of it as well as help them with any sort of amenities. The children were constantly shouting "sawubona" and waving to us as we rode by and a few of them even jumped on a few of my friends handle bars for a short ride. Riding through this community, I was really able to see just how little the government helps its people. Our guide showed us this huge apartment building right next to the informal settlement, but no one was living in it. The rent was too high for anyone to pay for it, but for this community it was a constant reminder of what they couldn't have. Something else I saw though, was how tight nit these communities are. They are loyal to each other and their community and it was something we all noticed. It become extremely present after our guide shared with us what Soweto means. The true definition is South Western Township, but to the people of this settlement it means "So We Too".
1 Comment
Rebekka
7/29/2018 10:07:41 am
Yes, there is no garbage collector in Soweto, that is why they are burning garbage all around. Also, with such a high unemployment rate (28% overall, 40% for ages 15-34) housing, sanitation, and health are impacted...not to mention education.
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Study AbroadThis June I have gotten the opportunity to travel to South Africa to observe policies and practices of the education systems. I will be working with students and educators from the U.S. and South Africa on a Changemaker Project. Our hope is to bring awareness to the different types of diverse learners in the U.S., South Africa and all over. Archives
August 2018
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