Author Archives: vendaadventures2017

“It’s nothing personal. That’s just how our economy works” (When Swallows Cry). As I sat watching the play unfold, this line caught my attention. Not only because the context of the scene regarded human trafficking, but because there is truth in these words for the disadvantaged, lower-class in South Africa, particularly the blacks and the … Continue reading The Real Apartheid Economy Continue reading →

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does.” This quote said by Nelson Mandela resonates through the history of South Africa from the 1995 Rugby World Cup to the soccer World Cup hosted by the country in 2010. Before arriving in South … Continue reading Will Flood Blog 2 Continue reading →

Through our group work in the fall and writing our research proposal, I felt confident that I had a sense of how the South African economy was working. I knew that the economy as a whole is suffering. There are high levels of unemployment (28%), complexities with education access, and there are limited opportunities for … Continue reading South African Economy During and After the Apartheid Era: What’s the Difference? Continue reading →

By: Dawn Winsor Our group attended the play “When Swallows Cry” at The Market Theater in Johannesburg. This play and the messages that came out of it really resonated with me and changed my outlook on many things having to do with South Africa and our group’s affect on it. What are we doing here? … Continue reading A Garden Solely Watered Cannot Truly Grow Continue reading →

When our class visited Zwelihle I was overwhelmed by the welcoming attitudes of the people that we met. They accepted us into their community and let us interact with their children with no hesitation whatsoever. This showed me that the residents there had complete trust in our group to help however we could at the … Continue reading Happiness Isn’t Always Material Continue reading →

As I have been in South Africa I have found a constant sense of joy and hopefulness among the South Africans. This has become increasingly evident in the townships. As we headed towards the townships everyone goes silent and is looking out the window. I start to see more people walking on the side of … Continue reading Happiness in the Townships Continue reading →

Langa “houses” that are old, disheveled, burned, and worn down. The colorful paint offers the community an atmosphere of vibrancy, happiness, and jubilation which juxtaposes their world of poverty, struggle, and desperation. Simple gestures of multicolored paint that can bring about a sense of solidarity and hope in an otherwise crippled reality. -London Vaughn Continue reading →

Hope is young. It sees blue skies and tall mountains. Its imagination is pure and extraordinary, turning shadows into friendly characters and pieces of scattered wood into forts. It has farsighted vision. It is unfazed by corruption and fearless of consequences. It has little room for resentment and ample room for allies. Hope is young. … Continue reading Hope Is Young Continue reading →

Perspective. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, as seen in the photo from atop Table Mountain. This photo shows a breathtaking view of the city below. However, what is not shown is the inequality and injustices the city still … Continue reading →

I loved the colorful houses in Bo Kaap because they reminded me of the spirit and people of South Africa. The hopeful colors serve as a metaphor for the diversity of religions and races that work together to build these beautiful communities. These colors transcend Bo Kaap into the townships and season the flavor of … Continue reading Transcending Color Continue reading →