Trista's perspective on how she views the world is changing

At the close of my second week of orientation, my perspective of how I view the world is already changing at a rapid rate.  Perhaps one of the most empowering experiences of the week was when we visited a church in Gugulethu and sat in on a service.  Although the service was primarily in Xhosa, the sense of community was overpowering.  The joy and faith that these people had in the face of all of their apparent struggles was tangible.  The Pastor, as well as the entire congregation, was also extremely welcoming and, although I myself am not particularly religious, I could not help but join them in their songs.  This experience, coupled with our visits to each and every internship, has led me to hold the firm belief that the people of Cape Town, regardless of their ethnic or religious background, are committed to their communities in a way that is incredibly admirable.  Regardless of any singular struggle or the sector of society in which it resides, the need for improvement, whether it be in the field of education, human rights, or medicine, is felt by a large number of Capetonians.  Perhaps the struggle for universal acknowledgment for improvement is still present in some areas (I referenced this in my last post), but it seems that passionate advocacy for one issue or another is alive and thriving in Cape Town.  

Each organization that we visited was so steadfastly committed to its cause and has made a marked improvement in the people and communities it aims to affect.  I can only hope that my time in my own internship will allow me to gain insight into how my chosen field contributes to the overall movement for positive change in this beautiful city.