We've
had an interesting first night in Our little enclave of Durban. When we
went out to visit the local beach we were greeted with people tooting
their horns and shouting at us, saying hello and asking us where we were
from. As we passed the supermarket and got further into the town the
people disappeared and we got the feeling we're here at just the wrong
season. Resembling Brighton in December or Blackpool when the lights are
switched off, this beach town which clearly has a thriving Summer life
was empty and quiet. It reminded me of being in Tynemouth and the love I
have for the beach at its emptiest, but in this unfamiliar place it had
a different feel.
We came back to an amazing
dinner consisting of South African delicacies such as Chakalanga (spicy
tomato soup) and Mealie Pap (cornmeal mash - not to be confused with
potato) and enough bbq'd meat to make a vegetarian cry. Caitlin made her
way through a mammoth plate and completed victoriously! Everyone
enjoyed pork chops as big as their plate and trying all the new things.
Aft
dinner Lu, who has been our contact and organiser in South Africa, came
to discuss tomorrows workshop wight he students. Suddenly the
prospector being here to work seemed very real. Lu spoke with passion
about the township we're going to work with, and the township in which
she was born.
Lu, along with her colleagues
including the principal of the school we're visiting, outlined the main
issues of the township - the sense of strong community but lifetime of
violence for children, the rise of drugs misuse in the area and teenage
pregnancy. Lu was keen to point out that this violence was not just
domestic or abusive, but much larger and wider, involving politics and
government - these children are having to deal with these situations
without ever truly understanding what they are.
As
a group I was impressed with how the students immediately started to
have ideas about what they could use in the session tomorrow - undaunted
they delved into their entire 3 years to find exercises and eerie
inches that may be beneficial. Without fuss they decided how to split
the 80 strong group amongst them and look at areas to base their
exercises around which were;
To share
Community
Comparing routine/lives
Communication and having fun
From there the students came together with exercises and strategies.
Tomorrow
we rise at 7.30 for breakfast and will be at the workshop for 9. We're
going to be open, aware and flexible and really allow them to tell us
what they need and want from the session.
Below is notes taken from the exchange between Lu and the group;
Community centre - African township
'People is people, we're trying to create a community here.' - Lu
Township
Conflict resolution - coming together through violence.
'One political party killing another is a lot for a child to take in'. -Lu
Teenagers and possibly young children. 80 people.
Understandable English.
'Things that are not supposed to be seen by children'. - Lu
'Understanding the white folk in their own country.' - Lu
'There's always Drama in the streets.' - Lu
'People are forever creating, if not music then Drama.' - Lu
School hall. 9am.
'Drugs and diseases, that's what more of our youth are affected by now.' - Lu
'Kids raising kids' - Lu
'Creating real relationships' - Lu
Image theatre - freeze frames - using music to get into the work if they do already??
'You should see the need. Some people don't know they even need it.' -Lu
Looking at positives - you don't want to teach a child by reminding a child of their life situation.
Possibility to start something and Lu to go back and film the work so we can archive it.
Games - sense of fun.
Hard hitting topics - lighthearted ways. - SI
'They're experts in their own lives.' - Matt
Being
aware of the group you're with, not planning too much. - age range.
They bring stories. What do they want? Sunday mornings.
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