Day 4 Robben Island Townships

We had an early morning trip to Robben Island to tour the town and the max secuirty prison that Mandela was imprisoned for 7 years.  the day was sunny and warm, but the chill of the surroundings was on everyone.  After seeing the quarry where he punded rocks to build the political prison building, we had a personal talk by a former political prisoner, Benjamin.  He talked about the levels of prison and what the meals were like.  More importantly he talked about why the government had found him guilty of high treason, and how he began as a freedom fighter after seeing the White Africans shoot his pregnant girlfriend right before his eyes.  It was somber, and as one of the students said, so much more real than just reading about the fight against apartheid or watching a movie.

After the ferry back to the island, we were treated to a traditional home cooked meal by a church group called Khanyisa - deep in a "new" township.  We were given a wonderful dance and drum performance by 10 of the younger students, which we all could have easily adopted!  Their smiles were from ear to ear, yet they lived in a place that only recently had running water and one toilet.

After lunch we toured additional townships, stopping at the ekhaya Ekasi Art and Education Center.  We did our best to help the economy by purchasing some of the wonderful handmade gifts that the art center's participants have learned to make.  You'd be amazed at what you can do with recycled soda cans!
The real shock and awe was our walking tour of the township.  Extended families live in spaces that are smaller than our hotel rooms, with one bathroom outhouse, and no screens, no sidewalks, abundance of stray wild dogs and garbage everywhere.  If you've watched the movie "District Nine" then you can get the picture of what we experienced today.  Our students were like rock stars, taking pictures with the children, walking hand -n-hand with them, and handing out small toothpick American Flags which one might have thought were golden to the children that gleefully waved them.  This was a life changing day.  No longer will we ever complain that we don't have something as we have seen hundreds, thousands of families that really do have nothing but the sunshine and rain and a tin shanty hut.

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