The latest instalment of adorable African babies

Saturday, we woke up early...ish (the bus left at 1015, and even then there were stragglers…) to head to TSiBA and participate in some Mandela Day activities. We helped Lillian maintain the organic vegetable garden that was started a year ago with Professor Shaughnessy’s capital in order to provide food for the youth of the area, especially the orphanage with which she works. Now there’s lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, carrots--all sorts of things. We harvested some of the vegetables (and a bunch of us stood around and shared the most delicious carrot--I called it the ubuntu carrot after it was covered in everyone’s saliva and some dirt and things; it belonged to everyone and to no one) and planted some trees. There were different affiliates of Lillian’s programmes present, including children from Priceless Honour orphanage running around everywhere. It was wonderful.

We left there to go have lunch at a community centre in Gugulethu. We cooked for hundreds of orphans and neighbourhood children, organised games, and played sport. It was pretty overwhelming, to say the least. There were basically children everywhere, grabbing your hand, smiling at you, climbing you…



It was particularly affecting when neighbourhood parents brought their children and asked if there was more food could be fed--everyone as young as 3-month-olds. We anticipated everyone coming from everywhere for food and sport, but it was still depressing and frustrating that such desperate poverty exists at all. I wasn’t angry at the locals, I was angry at the system that had created their poverty. It’s very hard for me not to blame others and get angry. I’m getting better at it though, but I’ll still keep my Irish temper. I have to deliver on threats somehow. =)

Follow the link for all the pictures, including the proof that I had the patience to take 60 pictures with a group of boys before dragging them all with me to play soccer, only to get called in 5 minutes later (after more pictures). There are also stories under some of the pictures.

In the vegetable garden...


Then some boys were using my camera to work it...


...and the boys on our trip are above and beyond.


At the community centre, crawling with kiddies...


This boy has a story.


He and 2 of his brothers, or something like that, were brought through the gate of the centre by an older man. The man made sure to sit them down and that they were cared for before leaving. This man was just wandering the street and found these 3 boys, whom he has most likely seen alone on the roads before, and brought them to us because he knew that we would have hot food. When I learned this in reflection, I came the closest to crying that I have on this trip. This little boy was so so so smart. He knew what a camera was, knew just how to pose and smile, and knew to look for the picture on the back of the screen. He was feeding himself and he was barely old enough to walk. He didn't have any diapers. I got so angry at his mother before realising that she was probably seven years my junior, and I started thinking about her before spiralling into a frustrated maelstrom. Why can't I take him home?






Yes. How cute.


Commence boy pictures. Each one of them.


As you can see, they even took pictures of pictures. The one in the red with that face-paint black circle around 1 eye because a quick boyfriend, apparently. And even outside, they wanted more pictures...


Inside...


Where did these little boys come from?


Before leaving...


O, John...this little girl had you totally wrapped around her little finger allll day...

...and she totally knows it.

They all knew it.