Day Two Summary

The day started really early for me, as usual. 😂 I couldn't sleep past my 3:30am circadian alarm clock. Breakfast was delicious. We had a buffet style meal. A good start to the day!

Mr Victor, our tour person, was very hospitable and insightful. We learned a lot about geographical, cultural and historical events in Johannesburg and surrounding countries. There are eleven languages spoken in South Africa in addition to nine provinces.

The lessons we learned from Mr. Victor are based on equity and sustainable community practices. First, empower your community members to achieve more than what "organizations" can provide.

An essential principle of del self-sufficiency. These values are analogous to owning property and land. There were systemic barriers preventing POC from owning land. So by creating spaces for collective development the is more impact and unity. Some of these practices are still being taught by growing food. Lastly, investing in education and trusting relationships help create a new sense of community. Educating individuals on how to navigate systems is critical to healing. By removing the manipulation or oppression and replacing it with choices and education.

Our first stop was to a market place near the Baragwanatha hospital (aka VCU). There we were amazed by the local shops and merchandise. We almost bought a nutritious worm (see picture) but we couldn't muster the courage to try eat it! 😳

Next, we visited a local mall. There we endulgef into trying on "native outfits" and window shoping. This was a ver cool experience.

Lastly, we visited the Soweto region. A very distinct side of town. This area is extremely rich in history and monuments. We noticed a stark economic gap between the neighborhood and the people living there. Some of the locals were selling out of tents or on foot (entrepreneurs). The houses were ver well maintained and affluent businesses. Again, we are outsiders. So, we try not to make assumptions based on preliminary observations.

We had to cut our tour short due to pending meetings and other commitments. Extremely thankful for this new experience. By the way, the next few days we will be in a remote area. So, we may not have access to internet. Nonetheless, stay tuned for more adventures 🥰