This high school is in Longa Township. South African townships are areas of extreme poverty, but the people here, show a strong determination for survival, creativity, and love for life.
We arrived, as usual, in the overstuffed taxis greeted by enthusiastic learners (students are called "learners" in South Africa). Once the word got around that we were there,
the learners from across the yard hung out the windows, yelled, danced, and sang, to get our attention.
I took many photographs and shared them with the learners. Several of us had digital cameras, so we could show the learners the photos as we took them. Mr. Moss (their teacher) gave us a tour of six classrooms that gave us great insight into the way the school is run. They need supplies and textbooks. The learners love learning and singing (singing was prohibited for many years under apartheid).
Some of the subjects we got to observe were current affairs, art, electricity (how to wire a house), history, and computer basics. For most of the learners, this was their first time with a computer. Each learner is charged a lab fee of 10 Rand ($1.40 US), and few can afford to take the class. The computer lab had about 20 computers in it. One thing we noticed was there were no textbooks. Learners had only pencils and paper in their backpacks.
They were encouraged to discuss the lesson at hand. The math class was undergoing testing similar to the statewide testing we have here. The school, as a rule, has very little funding, openly discussed with some of the school staff throughout our visit. There have been several very gifted student graduates, and the school wanted to hire them, at least part-time as support staff, but there continues to be insufficient money.
Before we knew it, it was lunchtime. Both SCC and UW students got the opportunity to visit with the learners while they came outside in the yard. Terrina, a young SCC student in her early twenties who loves to dance, got a chance to interact with some of the high school girls who are a part of a local dance troupe. They shared many of their basic, native dance moves with each other.
Mike and Tuseef, both 18-year-old SCC students, made a big hit with the young ladies. They decided to try out some of the lunchtime favorites, like chicken feet. They found the chicken feet crunchy and gristly but good, after they got used to them. Some of the other foods that were offered for lunch, were beverages of milk or juice, fruit, such as apples or oranges, and chips. Some of the local ladies brought these items everyday. The roadside-style stand that was set up in the schoolyard, was a common sight throughout South Africa.
After school was out, we walked through Longa Township. Mr. Moss was our tour guide and, being concerned for our safety, he got some of the older high school boys to walk along with us. In this way, we had extra protection for our walk, just in case someone in the neighborhood wanted to cause trouble, for it was obvious that we were strangers.
As we walked by the AIDS clinic, Moss filled us in on the struggle the clinic has with educating the community about how to prevent the spread of AIDS. One common misconception is that sleeping with a virgin will cure AIDS. There are about 15 people a day dying from AIDS, in this township alone. We also passed the early-child health clinic, that works with new mothers on making sure their babies get their needed vaccinations and check-ups.
Once we got to the diner, Eziho Restaurant, we enjoyed a late lunch. They had a variety of foods, chicken, lamb, soup, salad, samp (coarsely ground corn and sugar beans) and rice. Everything was delicious! When looking around the diner, we noticed on one of the walls, a large picture (enlargement of an old news photo) of the first township (a tent city) in Cape Town, built in 1901. People have had to live in shanty style homes for more than 100 years. We were all amazed at the determination, survivability and love these people have.
Please visit Longa and Townships
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