Reflections on Broken Glass

Hello Slugs in South Africa Readers,

This is a multimedia poem I created tonight! I was thinking about the Kenneth Gardens community in relation to my own identity. Enjoy!

Peace,

Andrew Blackwelder

Working with the Digital Media Archive Lab Jul. 25

Hello Slugs in South Africa Readers,


Saturday was a great day to share knowledge with the youth leaders of Kenneth Gardens and Dennis a PhD grad student studying at Durban University of Technology (DUT.) While assisting Jessica, I had the opportunity to collaborate with leaders in the community which is always pleasure and so much is learned. Communicating and sharing ideas about leadership development is a discussion worth having in every community.

Peace,
Andrew Blackwelder
--
Andrew and I were looking forward to meeting the youth for the first time, and collaborating with them during the Digital Media Archive lab. The main theme for this week was defining and understanding the roles of community development workers. The youth broke up into small groups and noted several of the community programs currently held in Kenneth Gardens, such as the Carrots and Peas Kitchen, the Senzokuhle Wellness Center, the Dance and Capoeira programs, the Digital Media Archive, and the soccer program. They then broke into small groups and brainstormed ways in which they can support these programs via advertising, sharing what they have learned through participating in the computer labs, and volunteering in their free time.

Towards the end of the lab, Andrew, Dennis and I brainstormed with the youth topics they could write about for their online digital archive. They decided to write about the ongoing renovations for a new learning center in Kenneth Gardens. The youth are looking forward to having a space where they can work on their assignments, study and have computer access. To check out the Kenneth Gardens Online Digital Archive, go to http://kennethgardens.co.za/ .

Until next time!
-Jessica

Photography by: Andrew Thomas Blackwelder

Wellness Center Meeting Jul. 24

Friday morning Andrew and I had another productive meeting with members of the Senzokuhle Wellness Center. We discussed collaborations over the coming month, and decided that tech trainings, creating CVs for Senzokuhle members, and further development of the NPO's portfolio will best suit their current needs. Senzokuhle was founded in 2009 and has been integral in supporting the health and wellness of the Kenneth Gardens Community. These women are very dedicated in their service by making daily in home visits to elderly residents, while also providing programs that foster the physical, mental, and social health of the community. Senzokuhle also has an active collaboration with the homeopathy department at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), where homeopathy students volunteer at the clinic's drop-in hours every Wednesday morning.

The positive impacts that Senzokuhle has had on the lives of residents in Kenneth Gardens is constantly growing. I have felt very fortunate to see first hand the work that they do, and I look forward to learning more as the next month unfolds. To find out more about the mission and the objectives of the Senzokuhle Home Based Care Organization, I encourage you to check out their blog www.senzokuhle.blogspot.com, which Andrew has so masterfully designed (spoiler alert: it is really cool!).

All the best,
Jessica

Khanyi, Zetu, Pat, Jessica and Andrew. Photography by Dr. Tamlynn Fleetwood

Ubuntu

Ubuntu - A quality that includes the essential human virtues; compassion and humanity.

But it means so much more than this definition, as it does not directly translate into English

I was first introduced to the word Ubuntu about a year ago in this Ted video. It was more the concept of that word that captivated me more than anything.

These past few days I've been at the Life Before, During, and After Mining Conference hosted by IANRA, EU, and Benchmarks Foundation. The topics of the conference were the relocation of the Magobading People in Sekhukhuni Village and MPRDA (Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act) which are laws concerning mining. While here, I was able to interview a few people at the conference about their thoughts on the word.

Susan Moraba says, "Ubuntu to me means, I'm a person not because I'm here, but because of everyone else. I take advice and learn from others. The ideas of respect, honor, and kindness comes from Ubuntu."

Tshepo Mmusi also gave his insight, "Ubuntu is how you connect with other people, it is a way of accommodating each other. Ubuntu means being human to one another, it is a reminder."

I was able to find a more in depth definition of the word on this website.

"Balance would mean that the individual understands that s/he derives her/his identity from being in community i.e. a bond of individuals. It is this new bond that provides the security and sustenance that allow for free development beyond simple survival needs. The shared experiences of individuals in the bond form the basis on which culture is built. This sharing in which each one takes something f rom everyone else, means that each one is because they all are. Through sharing they develope affinity with one another and though they are bond by culture, culture promotes growth of individual identity.

And as each one is constantly contributing to the culture, the culture is constantly changing. It is dynamic, constantly expanding to accommodate new developments. A static culture is a sign of stagnation.

The relationship between the individual and community, therefore, is one of interdependence and ideally, is based on mutual respect.

I am because we are and because we are, you are." 

It's fascinating that so much can be said through a single word, while giving a deeper look into South African culture. I think it can be used as a way of approaching and dealing with people in your everyday life may it be family, friends, or even co-workers.

Tyler

Kenneth Gardens 7.22.15

Hello Slugs in South Africa Readers,

Today I had another meeting with Carrots and Peas leaders about the Woman's Day Poster and Website that we're working on currently. I got a series photographs of the beautiful rainy day in Kenneth Gardens enjoy.

Peace,
Andrew Blackwelder

Photography by: Andrew Thomas Blackwelder

Womens Day South Africa

Hello readers of Slugs in South Africa,

I'm working on designing a flyer for Women's Day for the community of Kenneth Gardens. I was given this project by women community leaders from Carrots and Peas Kitchen. It's interesting to compare and think about women's rights in the U.S.A. and the historic struggles that have and currently exist."On August 9, we celebrate the achievements of the women of South Africa and we come together to advance women's struggles for empowerment and their rights to full equality. On the birth of this day, 53 years ago, on 9 August 1956, 20,000 women made their way to the Union Building in Pretoria." -http://www.dfa.gov.za/images/gallery1/women%27s%20day.pdf
Peace,

Andrew Blackwelder

Truth

Things have changed pace a bit this past week, but it's been a very busy week. I've traveled to 5 townships within that time working with groups as they start to prepare for the Community Monitors end of the month production meeting. They use this meeting to produce a newspaper each month with a variety of articles from the different groups around Joburg.

It's been very interesting to be a part of these groups, they are all working on very different issues within their community. For example, tuberculosis is the leading cause of death in South Africa, it is also ranked number one in the world with cases when size of population is taken into consideration. The township of Kanana was working on this issue in their article, I was completely unaware of how bad it was. South Africa lacks the proper medical infrastructure to deal with it even though the disease is preventable, treatable, and curable. A large number of this cases are found in mining communities like Kanana and Rustenburg, and this has been linked to the inhalation of silica dust.

In the last few days we've started the mapping project back up in the province of Rustenburg and it seems to be flowing smoothly. Should hope to have the map up by the end of this month. 

Uhambe Kahle - Go well till we meet again 

Tyler 

Going through articles in Vaal

Just go with it

Truth

Kenneth Gardens 7.13.15

Hello Slugs in South Africa readers,

Yesterday me and Jessica taught the community leaders at Carrots and Peas Kitchen some tech essentials including setting up email accounts, saving files, and using USB drives. It was rewarding hearing from the community leaders (Joyce, Maggie, and Zandile) how empowered they felt. This is just the beginning of teaching tech essentials to community leaders and youth in Kenneth Gardens. It's nice starting out in such a positive way. It was an empowering experience personally to have someone tell me they felt empowered by what I'm teaching.

Peace,
Andrew Blackwelder

Photography by: Jessica Crosby
Smiles teaching and learning with the community leaders at Carrots and Peas Kitchen

Photography by: Katie Roper
Exploring Durban with Dennis a graduate student leading tech labs for youth in Kenneth Gardens.

Poetic Justice

Today I'm returning to JoBurg from eMalahleni in the Mpumalanga province. It's nice to be back in a stable connection after having wifi troubles, in addition to the Vodacom (Phone service provider) network going down.

Over the last 5 days I've been working with Mpumalanga Youth Against Climate Change (MYACC) in the beginning stages of our mapping project in their area. This group of highly dedicated individuals is working to maintain their piece of the Olifants River that once flowed freely into the wetlands of eMalahleni. Also they are all exceptional poets who spend their free time writing poetry and plays, hopefully they'll allow me to get some of their work up. 

They took me on what they call the "toxic tour" of their home. Through the tour they showed me where many of the local environmental issue are stemming with coal production being at the top. Coal produced here accounts for 80% of the coal being used by the country and the mining industry here is flourishing. The lack of respect for the surrounding communities is highly concerning and is obvious from the tour. Additionally the sewage system in the area is also not helping the problem. 

In better news, my Indiegogo has been fully funded and reached not just one, but both goals! This will substantially help the project, as we will now be able to get all necessary tools for documentation. I am so incredibly grateful to have such amazing family and friends help support this project. I love you guys! 

Tyler

Chemical build up from water flowing toward the city from mines

Kenneth Gardens 7.8.15

Finally! Got to do some Photography and Videography today. Here is a series images from Kenneth Gardens in Durban. It was awesome watching the community leaders in action.
Peace,
Andrew Blackwelder

Photography by: Andrew Thomas Blackwelder

I've made it!  

It's officially been one week since I've began my project working with Community Monitors Action Network in regions surrounding Johannesburg and things are moving quickly! I've visited the cities of Rustenburg and eMalahleni for introductions, everyone was so nice and excited to get started. 

There is much work that needs to be done, I was unaware at just how prevalent these mines were and the by-products are extremely evident. Luckily, the groups that I will be working with have already contributed so much to this ongoing effort to achieve change within their community. The mapping portion of the project is still young, but it is coming along. I will update the blog with the map and much more in coming posts. 

Rustenburg group! Minus Jay

Some of the untouched land at Retief's Kloof

Carrots & Peas

Rough design for possible website banner. Me and Jessica are working with a group of women in the Kenneth Gardens community that have started an NPO from scratch. Multiple times a week they cook meals to help feed the community. I'm so happy to have the opportunity to work with individuals like them.

Peace,
Andrew Blackwelder

I just launched a crowdfunding campaign! :)

Check it out! :)

Advancing Community Projects using Digitial Tools

Peace,
Andrew Blackwelder :)

Durban meetings have commenced!

Me and Jessica have met with partners from Durban University of Technology and one of the NPO's in Kenneth Gardens (the largest municipal housing community in Durban.) We are currently brainstorming on project specifics that fit goals of the community. More information coming soon!