One such way is through a youth
community play put on and written by a woman who I work with at the community
center. Every year, on average, they have 40-50 students that participate in a
musical based on community issues. They have been doing these plays for 10 or
so years and it has always been a source of much delight for the people of
Hanover Park.
This year their show will be about
two brothers who are living in Hanover Park and the younger one is killed in
the crossfire of a bout of gang violence. His older brother avenges the death
of his fallen brother and winds up in the jail for murder, and the story
continues on about his life and the choices he made. The students pick the show
every year, and this one has been picked for the past six years.
It was interesting to me that the
children and their parents would be so willing to voice their experiences with
the violence they experienced. I think often times we try to cover up the
problem in America and avoid the negativity all together while not actually
addressing the problems presented behind gang violence and gun deaths.
The woman who directs the plays also
writes them and to hear her so confidently tell me the plot of the play and the
reason why it was important to address such issues sent chills up my spine. I
think the openness with discussion of such issues is what allows for the people
of Hanover Park to start the process of taking advantage of the many resources
made available through the FCRC. With structures like the FCRC people, much
like their mission, people can work towards strengthening the amazing communal
bonds that are already in existence.
I have also been learning a lot
about the federal policy for those in poverty, which is interesting to see how
it differs from the US. The program is called SAS and they are given debit
cards that are loaded with the amount they receive per month. Each mother
receives 300 ZAR per child per month, which to put in perspective, diapers cost
129-140 ZAR. Grandmothers, on the other hand, will receive 1,400 ZAR per month
because they are often times taking care of their children and grandchildren.
These women come in often to get
affidavits to testify to their inability to pay school fees so their children
can get into the best schools possible. Which I personally find awesome, and
all of the people that come in do complete their CVs are so excited to find
work again and are so proud that they are still looking. One woman came in the
day she got fired and re did her CV to go back out on the market and find
another job.
I am truly enjoying the spirit and
hard work of Cape Town and am so honored to be studying and working here.
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