Walking around Cape Town

Cape Town is not unlike a lot of urban cities during the day.  There is a lot of bustle and activity.  It looks similar, but I am not sure that it really is.

We have been advised, especially at night, to walk in groups, never going out alone.  On Monday night, with a group of seven, we were approached by a young man who stroked my arm and said "Yo Mama, Yo Mama".  I ignored him and he soon left.  Another in our group tried to engage him in a discussion encouraging him to move on.  That was totally ineffective.  Ultimately, this only ended when she abruptly told him "NO" and we crossed the street.  

We had a couple in our group who last night were approached by a man.  They gave him their leftover dessert.  He wouldn't leave them alone, wanting to get her purse.  They ultimately ducked into a restaurant and called a cab to get back to our hotel.

The Director of International programs who is with us this week, relayed a story where he was approached by someone who asked for money.  He said no to which the young man responded, "it is better for me to ask than to steal."  Not a very welled veiled threat.

I feel safe.  I am not inclined to even make eye contact, let alone engage in any conversation.  As one of my classmates (Kelso) said, "It's all about attitude."  Those who know me, know I can do attitude as good as the best of them.

Hope Worldwide in South Africa

Okay, I have been totally humbled.  Yesterday we visited a branch of Hope Worldwide South Africa which was located just outside the city in a little township.  As far as I can tell, a township around here are makeshift "houses" that have been built out of spare materials.  Generally, these people were black and were forcibly relocated to this "township".  Actually, where we were, the people were relocated in 1985.

I was humbled, not only by the conditions in which people were living, but also by one man in particular.  He is a 26 years old and has an amazing passion for providing a positive role model to young men.  He is a part of a singing group (and has been since 1997).  All of these men have committed to providing after school in the middle of this township.  They talk to the kids about gender roles and other issues that may well be missing in these children's lives.

The organization which employs this young man is Hope Worldwide of South Africa.  This agency has historically been funded by USAID to work with HIV/AIDS prevention, primarily through abstinence.  In addition, with other funding, they do provide counsel about safe sex and the use of condoms.

One of the main programs that HOPE offers used to be called (and remains based on) Men as Partners program.  The idea here is to teach men a different way to treat women.  The goal is to raise up men who will promote gender quality and family health, not a usual role for African men.  The passion with which these men work is amazing.  One man sounded like a preacher as he described the work in which he is involved.

I think that I was most humbled by the group of young men who, of their own initiative, have taken on this responsibility to train up the next generation of African men to make for a new South Africa.  The one with whom I spoke, works for HOPE from 8 am until 4pm, works at the center with the youth (which is not a part of his employment), from 4-6 in the evening and then he rehearses with his musical group until 8 pm.  (I recorded the group performing and I will upload it when I get back to the States.)  He is a passionate, devoted man who has done more for his community at age 26 than I suspect that I will ever do.

I always have a hard time going to places like this.  The dogs that are around give me so much perspective.  If I saw a dog in the states in the condition I saw yesterday, I would be appalled.  Here, when you see children in the same condition standing around, I have to admit that I don't much care about the dogs.