A Luta Continua

Today is my last day of working with the Community Monitors and Bench-Marks Foundation here in South Africa. This has been a life changing experience for me to say the least. Far separated from the usual tourist experience that most get when coming to South Africa, I've spent most of my time staying with those on the other side of the veil. I am convinced that my time here has helped open my perspective in ways I hadn't imagined and I'm grateful for this.

Unfortunately, change is not something that can come about in 2 months time and I understand that it takes much more than a tool to achieve change. The institutionalized systems of Apartheid are deep-seated problems that will take much time and perseverance, but the struggle will continue. The people that I have worked with in my time here have made me hopeful of that in every way. We were able to complete a 3 phase project, make over 100 reports on our map, form a 10 person mapping team, as well as create a stable foundation and plan to continue after I've gone. In this regard, I believe my project has been successful.

There are many people to thank for this project. I would like to give a special thanks to the Everett Program especially Professor Benner, Katie Roper, Thomas Gelder, Donovan Thompson, Andrew Blackwelder, Jessica Crosby, and Priscilla Rios. Of course, the Community Monitors and Bench-Marks Foundation. Additionally, my family and Livani Yoakum have been supportive since day one and done whatever it's taken to help me achieve this. Thanks to family and friends we were able to donate a laptop, wireless modem/router, 2 tablets, a portable disk drive, and 2 smart phones (one for future Everett members working in South Africa.)

Sala Kahle
Tyler Spencer

Video Production and Photography Youth Lab Aug. 21

I am sad to say that I participated in my last Digital Media Archive youth lab last Saturday. Andrew and I had prepared a PowerPoint presentation that talked about the basics of photography and the process of video production. We would have loved to spend more time working on video skills and developing a script; however, we only had a few hours in the lab. I presented on coming up with a concept, the importance of script writing and story boarding while Andrew talked about important camera settings, how to use the condenser microphone and key components when composing a shot. It brought me back to when Andrew and I were working together spring quarter in the Everett Video production lab. The youth enjoyed the hands on experience of filming, audio recording, being the subject of the video and acting as the "marker" between takes. Within the lab time were able to film short segments of each participant describing Kenneth Gardens in a few words. The video clips are in the editing process, so be on the look out for Andrew's post! For now, check out a few of my photos from the lab.

Cheers,
Jessica

8.19- 8.26 Kenneth Gardens

Flamingo Court

I had my first experience at another manciple housing estate near Kenneth Gardens. Carrots and Peas leaders invited me to join in providing free food to adults and children in this community. It was interesting to compare architecture.The structure of the Flamingo building was thirteen stories high. I wonder what that does to the mental state of residents living there? Here is a series of photographs visually describing my experience. After that, I was invited to a Carrots and Peas annual meeting. I went to the Health Clinic that is every Wednesday from 9am-noon serving Kenneth Gardens and the larger community. The Health Clinic is a collaboration between multiple departments at Durban University of Technology and Kenneth Gardens leaders from Senzokuhle Home Based Care Organisation. This series also features a photograph outside the flat I'm currently living.

Peace and Love,
Andrew

Photography By: Andrew Thomas Blackwelder

Hellos, Goodbyes, and Podcasts

After an awesome week in Durban, I'm back from visiting my colleagues from the Everett Program, Andrew and Jessica. They were exceptional hosts and took me with them everywhere they went, and introduced me to the community members of Kenneth Gardens all along the way. It was great seeing them in action with community members. From hosting tech workshops with elder leaders to help them set up email and navigate the internet, to hosting creative drawing sessions with the children. The city of Durban is absolutely amazing, and has a very unique vibe to it. I think I might like it too much.

Right around the corner 

Monkeying around in KG

Love Durbs

Following my return from Durban, I was off to Rustenburg to follow-up with the Digital Mapping group and conclude their month-long project. Thanks to the Everett Program grant and donations made to the project, we were able to provide Community Monitors members Steven Ramokhula and Buti Botopela with two tablets for an intensive mapping project that commenced on August 2nd. Their objective was to travel around their immediate community and map everything from top to bottom. The team knocked the project out of the park, and we now have a greater understanding and ideas of how to best utilize the information they provided and the resulting map. Sadly, it was time for me to depart the Rustenburg group this week. I take with me many wonderful memories.

I'm now back in Johannesburg teaching the Bench-Marks Foundation members how we utilize the map thus far. I will be working with the foundation up until August 28th. 

I would also like to give a massive shout out to Mr. Bobby Marie, whose work has deeply inspired me. Mr. Marie has taken some time off for a well deserved vacation, and by good fortune I was able to see him before him left. He is the bond that holds together the Community Monitors, and he does his extremely complex job incredibly well. Each month he travels between 7 different communities collaborating with young adults to build their skills. Bobby works with each individual to promote self-expression through writing, poetry, and podcasts. He treat everyone he meets as an individual and helps them see their own potential. He has housed me through all my travels and without his support and dedication this project would absolutely not have been possible. So, thank you Bobby. 

Did I mention I hate goodbyes?

I mentioned in a previous post that I would try to get up one of the poet's pieces and I was finally able to get it online. Enjoy!

Also, new editions of the most recent Community Monitor reports are now available here. I have a podcast interview in the Action Voices Radio July Edition speaking on the project.

Tyler

Kenneth Gardens 8.21.15 (Carrots and Peas Video)

Hello Slugs in South Africa readers,

It's been awhile since I posted and hope everyone is doing well. I've done a bit since I last published a post. I'm living in Kenneth Gardens now. With someone who has lived in Kenneth Gardens over 40 years. Kenneth Gardens is municipal housing estate in Umbilo, South Africa. We've (Jessica Crosby and myself) have been working with two NPO's in the community of Kenneth Gardens and have photography and web content developing and coming soon to share. Something I've learned since being here is don't take WiFi for granted (we've been using are phones to create WiFi hot spots.) The second is Durban is Beautiful. A quote from a colleague and friend to prove the beauty of Durban “I'm going to move here.” - Tyler Spencer. Which leads me to the next update that Jessica, Tyler, and myself had the opportunity to come together and share project updates in person. Tyler was able to meet amazing leaders in The Kenneth Gardens community that work through passion to make a difference.
Here is a video I created featuring one of the NPO's Carrots and Peas:

Peace,
Andrew Blackwelder

Mpumalanga

My time in Mpumalanga has unfortunately come to an end. I was blessed to have an amazing host family that treated me as if I was one of their own. I will still be working the team over the rest of the duration of my time here in South Africa and even once I've returned. We have established a team of seven in the area who will continue working on the project in the region as well as traveling to train others. The poets that I told you all about have asked me to come up with a piece.

Foreign

My eyes are foreign to these lands

But I can see that it is not that different

My ears are foreign to these languages

But I can hear the sincerity in your voices

My hands are foreign to the feel of barbed wire fences everywhere

But I can feel the deep wounds of time

My mind tells me that I'm foreign 

But my heart tells me I'm perfectly where I need to be right now

I arrived in Durban on Wednesday, and gave a presentation about the mapping project to students and staff at the Durban University of Technology on Thursday. The presentation went extremely well and City Architect Prof. Jonathan Edkins is starting to prepare a Crowdmap in collaboration with DUT students for future plans of the campus.  It's been great catching up with Andrew and Jessica and hearing of the progress of their project and exchanging stories on our time here. 

Uzinakekele - Take Care

Tyler

Training others

Elands River Falls

God's Window

Mpumalanga Youth Against Climate Change group. They got me a shirt!

Host fam

Presentation to DUT