Week 11: Article on Community Development

This week, we were to find journal articles relevant to our project. I found an article that aligns quite well with the goals of our service learning approach. In the article titled "Community development in South Africa:Its use as an intervention strategy" in the journal of International Social Work, Travis and colleagues examined whether if community development would be appropriate in the communities of Cato Crest, Bhambayi and Ndwedwe within the province of KwaZulu Natal, which is the largest and poorest province in South Africa.
To assess this, three of the largest role players in community development were interviewed, namely community development committees, community development field workers, and community development and social work academics. In summary, the community development committees, which consisted of committees already existing in the communities, stressed the importance of developing electricity, road, and water infrastructure. The community development field workers, who had working relationships with the communities, expressed the importance of social and economic development, which encompasses not only building infrastructure but also building the people in terms of life skills and asserting themselves. And finally the academics echoed the field works in stressing how vital human development is in addition to infrastructure development.
Travis and colleagues expand upon the importance of combating the so called "culture of entitlement" where community members expect NGOs, the government, or other agencies to build their community for them. Thus it is important to maintain a "facilitator role" so that we aren't the only source for an idea or technology. Community development is ideal in the sense that the people empower themselves to create the community they want to live in. Because there is disagreement between the three role players, the importance of dialogue between them is important before large scale projects should be attempted.

Week 10: Bringing Light to Egoli

I'm super excited to finally have our service project! We will be partnering with Egoli Electronics to bring electricity to nearly 3/4 of the residents in the township who still do not have electricity. The small township-based business is providing portable electric batteries to the other 1/4 of residents, but our group was considering other alternatives to providing affordable, reliable light.

I had heard about Liter of Light a few years ago, but the company's simple yet elegant concept immediately came to mind when Dr. Gilbert was going over the four total service projects in class. To light up many homes in the Philippines, a hole is cut in the roof to insert a plastic 1 liter bottle filled with filtered water and some bleach. The solution then refracts sunlight throughout the home and charges a solar cell, which powers a light to also be refracted during the night. Liter of Light and other similar organizations have brought this innovative lighting solution to many countries around the world, and partnering with them may be a solution we can present to Egoli Electronics.

Official Liter of light video: here
Comprehensive news video: here

Week 9: Top of the Top Ten

I began this class with a very limited and narrow understanding of South Africa's history, culture, and issues. Now, after nine weeks of research that has culiminated into a "top of the top ten" list that our class gathered, I have a much more comprehensive view of the nation. I have learned about the turbulent history of the nation from colonization to apartheid to a New South Africa. I have learned about the prominent issue of race and how pervasive the topic is in every day culture. I have learned that not all are equal in today's South Africa: coloured people, women, the LGBT community, and many more still live under a blanket of oppression or discrimination. And I have learned that And I have learned that with this inequality there are many other issues that the newly democratic nation still needs to face, including education reforms, gangs, and the abject poverty disparity. As we continue past the halfway point of our course and begin designing our service projects, I will keep this new knowledge in mind and close to my heart so I understand both where we are going and why we are there to serve and learn.

For reference, here are the top 10 items that my peers and I have gathered:

TOP 10 READINGS & VIDEOS

Maymester 2015, South Africa  

1. Power and Privilege Definitions

2. Apartheid Timeline

3. Not White Enough, Not Black Enough

4. South Africa Progressive on LGBT Rights but Gays Still Battle for Social Reform

5. Cape Town: Gangs, Race and Poverty 20 years after Apartheid

6. Realizing Women's Rights in South Africa

7. Here's how South African students talk about race and gender

8. ‘Winnie’ fails to capture the essence of Mrs. Mandela

9. Bucket list to visiting South Africa

10. Culture in South Africa

Week 8: Top 10 Peer Research Items

This week I compiled a list of ten items I found useful and compelling to me that my peers have researched. It was a bit difficult to pick just ten, but here is my list I assembled for a variety of areas about South Africa.

(in no particular order)

1. Power & Privilege Definitions - Joshua Alvarez
2. Apartheid Timeline - Joshua Alvarez
3. South Africa's Post Apartheid Generation - Connie Garza
4. US Anti-Apartheid Movement Helped Bring Change to South Africa - Bianca Alcorta
5. Inside South Africa's whites-only town of Orania - Elisa Benavides  
6. Say It Loud, I'm Coloured and I'm Proud - Amanda Lin
7. Opinion: In South Africa, it’s often said that being gay is a ‘western’ thing - Ignacio Cruz
8. South Africa's Ticking Time Bomb: Youth unemployment and economic inequality are making for an untenable situation. - Nestor Castro
9. Realizing Women’s Human Rights in South Africa -  Denice Carpenter
10. Cape Town: Gangs, Race and Poverty 20 years after Apartheid - Denice Carpenter

Week 7: Peer Research

This week, I poked my head into three items that my classmates researched last week.

The busts of Paul Kruger, JBM Hertzog, DF Malan, JG Strijdom and Hendrik Verwoerd overlook the town of Orania.

As Americans, and hence historically anti-apartheid (credits to Bianca Alcorta for finding that article), we rarely hear from the pro-apartheid side, namely those of Afrikan decent. Elisa Benavidas found what I found to be a fascinating article on an all white, ethnically Afrikan town of Orania. Afrikaners are the descendants of the original French, Dutch, and German settlers who settled in South Africa in the 17th century and eventually came to establish the apartheid system to maintain dominance in the country. Orania was established just shortly before the end of apartheid in 1991, and has been a mecca for Afrikaners who felt displaced by the heralding of the new democratic system. Amide interesting facts about the independent infrastructure of the town, low crime rate, strict rules, and eerie atmosphere emerges the Afrikan view of apartheid. Many in the town found nothing wrong with the system and felt displaced by the end of it. One man complained of "reverse racism" and having difficulty find a job. Whereas most of the world praise FW de Klerk for helping to bring an end to apartheid before Nelson Mandela succeeded him as president of South Africa, the owner of the local bar blames him for "the plight of [the Afrikan] people." Oriania even has busts of old Afrikan leaders overlooking the town, a testament to how the spirit of apartheid still lives on.

I have heard the term "the lost generation" used in several contexts now. In an article that Denice Carpenter shared, it refers to the generation after apartheid who still struggle to get an education. Not only do about half of all students drop out at some point with many failing matric exams but many schools also end up shutting down from lack of funding, especially in rural areas and small provinces. Thus many of the Lost Generation ultimately do manual labor or criminal/gang activities. Fortunately, generous efforts from individuals like Oprah Winfrey and nonprofit organizations have made strides to provide for the education of South Africa, but much work remains.

In another look at the young adults of South Africa today, a short documentary that Connie Garza found titled "South Africa's Post Apartheid Generation" examined where many people in my own generation are in life and their viewpoints on politics and apartheid. Many of the young men and women interviewed are now working in the arts and were born near the end of apartheid. Their parents all grew up and lived in the apartheid system with some who participated in anti-apartheid movements and one mother who was nearly killed. It still strikes me how recently apartheid was abolished, and how the varying opinions on the degree of change since. Nearly all who were interviewed showed a drive to become successful in this New South Africa.

Week 6: Layers of Complexity

"She will never give up." This was one of the most striking lines to me as I watched Winnie Mandela, a major motion picture based on Anne Marie du Preez Bezrob's biography Winnie Mandela: A Life. I remember in some of our blog posts last week that the movement against apartheid was not simply led by Nelson Mandela but was also greatly contributed by other great figures, one of whom was Winnie Mandela. Although the movie didn't go in depth on many aspects of her life, it does give a very solid impression of what this women suffered through in her fight against apartheid.Her relationship with Nelson Mandela marked her as a political threat very early in their marriage, leading to police harassment, being fired from her job, banishment to a small Free State town, and even betrayal and violence within her allies. After watching both Winnie Mandela and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, I want to read the books that inspired the two movies to learn more about the complexity of these two historical figures' lives.


But life is rarely black and white. Lindsay Johns wrote an excellent piece titled "Say It Loud, I'm Coloured and I'm Proud," which dives headfirst into the layers of identity and labels that the South African people align with. Hundreds of years of a métissage (mixing of blood) between a multitude of hertiages has produced the Coloured identity, which is distinct from being Black or White. What surprised me the most is how adept South Africans can be at identifying what to call other South Africans, whereas a foreigner (who will be me this summer) may not see the characteristics that set the groups apart. For example, Johns used Denzel Washington and Usher, two prominent black men in America, as an example of who South Africans would call Coloured. Unfortunately, the politics of apartheid and the new Afrocentric ANC Government have put Coloured people at a disadvantage. However, Johns ends on the hopeful mission to first focus on being " children of the universe and citizens of the world" before worrying about labels and races.

We have parallels in our own backyard with America not being simply black nor white. An essay titled "A Hispanic Civil Rights Movement" by Juan Williams explores the struggle of our nation's largest minority group in their own fight for equality. The movement is a great example of the power that organization of many diverse groups can have to create change. Hopefully racial tensions can be set aside in America as minorities band together in great movement for equality.

[Congrats, you made it through my long rambling! Here's a fun article as your reward: 
How to Spot an American Anywhere in the World]

Week 5: From Selma to Johannesburg to Cape Town

This week, I watched two incredible movies about civil rights movements in both the U.S. and South Africa. In the movie Selma, Martin Luther Kind led protesters in a undying march for the equal voting rights. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, follows Nelson Mandela life from childhood to the ending of apartheid and his victorious presidential election.

I was constantly at awe at how selfless these two civil rights leaders were in their pursuits for freedom. Both dedicated their entire lives, and even risked their lives, to sway entire nations to their cause. It was amazing how they were able to rally both political and social support, with constant references to "The People" they were fighting for. It was also incredibly painful to follow the suffering The People endured. Reading on paper about the brutality and injustice they faced is one thing, but witnessing it through video makes it all the more real. But it is from these historic films that I can understand more where the people of South Africa are emerging from. Apartheid ended merely 20 years ago, and many of the people impacted by the oppressive policy are still alive today. It are those people that we will be working with this coming summer. I am glad to have watched these movies so I can see not only the struggle but also the resilience the people of South Africa had in their fight for equality and freedom.

Week 4: Climbing Hills

The beauty about this quote is that once you crest one of these hills and look backwards, you realize how far you've come. Both Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr. are great men who have battled their way up many such hills for their countries. They both came to prominence due to unrest with racial laws and prejudice in their communities. And through their efforts and leadership, they were able to rally entire countries in a movement against racial discrimination. Sadly, MLK's fight was cut short when he was assassinated at the age of 39. He realized much work was still to be done in the urban north, but was unable to accomplish that work. Mandela was fortunate enough to continue his climb for equality almost until his death.

What I find so inspirational in these two leaders is how, even after accomplishing so much in their lives, they still felt the necessity and drive to accomplish so much more. This even ties into the work that we will be doing in South Africa in just over three months. With all the progress that this now democratic country has made, there is still much that can be done. Poverty is still very real. Infrastructure problems loom as the population swells. Public health and education can always be improved. I hope that after our Maymester, we too can look back and marvel at what we have accomplished. From then, we would look to the future and the other challenges that may come.

Week 3: Past, Present, and Future

South Africa really is a cultural melting pot with a turbulent history. In 1652, the Dutch-East India Trading Company first landed in South Africa at the present day Cape Town, setting off a chain of historical events as the British, Trek Boers, Afrikaners, Xhosas, Zulus, and so many other groups clashed over the next hundreds of years to live in this land. Just reading the brief overview of South Africa's history had me constantly referencing a map and struggling to keep the many historic (and even tragic) conflicts straight in my head.

I also never realized the severity of apartheid in South Africa. Beginning in 1910, a series of laws separated and reduced the rights of the black population. This includes the "Mines and Works Act", cutting black's employment to menial work to guarantee better jobs for whites, the 1913 "Native Land Act" that essentially restricted blacks to reservations constituting 7.3% of South Africa's land, to even "Bantu" educational measures that reduced black children to learning how to wash dishes and weed flower beds.

But through all this emerged "New South Africa", a term I had never heard before but makes perfect sense to use. This New South Africa exists in the modern world as many other nations do, as it lives in a more democratic society, strives to empower women, gathers in the world's largest mining investment conference, and even gears up to face its arch-nemesis in sports, the Aussies. On the surface, South Africa appears very much like other countries. However, the lingering effects of post-apartheid still surfaces in many of the news headlines I scanned. Additionally, much of the country's population still lives in extreme poverty, just one concrete example of how apartheid, which ended only 25 years ago, still affects the South African people today.

However, I believe that with the same resilience that this country's people used to be where they are today that they can overcome these social issues. People like David Gilmour, Deputy Assistant Director of the Bureau of African Affairs, have been a part of this movement in social development. When we hear him speak in our seminar this week, I would like to ask him how has being an American influenced his relations with the South African people and his favorite part of this nation.

Week 2: Reflecting on Race

Growing up, I was very blessed to live in one of the most diverse cities in America, Sugar Land, TX. But even with diversity and being surrounded by people from different backgrounds and heritages, or "races", I noticed that there was a case of colorblindness within my community. We were taught as we were growing up that we should ignore race and that to openly discuss race could be rude or was to simply break social norm. My peers and I simply silently acknowledged each other's race, but never discussed the social ramifications that our differences may create.

Therefore, when I read Peggy MacIntosh's article about white privilege, the large disparity between the white majority and other racial minorities became much more clear to me after years of me accepting it as simply "the norm". As an Asian American, and therefore a minority, many of the her ideas, such as being underrepresented in everyday life, rang true for me. However, there are far reaching consequences to being oblivious of how one's skin color can both affect how they are treated and alter the paths open to them. Racism in America, although no longer including "individual acts of meanness," is still alive if not merely hidden in our unconscious.

But race is only one dimension of one's identity. Beverly Tatum brings forward many other aspects that define "Who Am I?" including religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and ablebodyness. In short, it is a complex question. My main takeaway was how the dominant identity can stretch itself to become the standard against which minority identities stand out. It is with this that I am often aware of my Asian heritage and youth while in line at the voting poll, my youth when volunteering with business professionals, and even my height when I am with many of my Asian female friends (I am often a head taller than them).

However, as PBS.org states, "Colorblindness will not end racism." I believe that we as a society need to embrace each other's differences and celebrate them. Then we must be active to tilt the scale of "dominant" versus "subordinate" in terms of race. It is that component of changing policy "at the expense of the of others" to right this scale that will be the most challenging to overcome.

Week 1: About Amanda

Hi everyone!

My name is Amanda Lin, and I am a 3rd year senior here at the University of Texas at Austin from Sugar Land, TX in the Houston area. After bouncing through a couple of natural science majors, I finally settled with majoring in a Biology Bachelor in Science and Arts (BSA) degree and a minor in psychology. The BSA lets me finish the courses I need for medical school while taking many of the other amazing courses offered here, such as this one! Since I come from a biology background and I am a pre-med student, I would like to focus my project on public health or some other aspect of healthcare.

Some other random facts about me

• I am a hedgehog mommy. His name is Honey, and he isn't the sweetest hedgehog out there...
• Two of my favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones and Community.
• I am an officer in a international charity/culture/environmental/etc. organization called Tzu Chi Collegiate Association (new members always welcome!)
• I started playing cello again after a ~2 year hiatus.
• Yes, I know I'm pretty tall for a girl (5'9").
• Contrary to many people, I love going to airports.
• Three things on my bucket list are to travel to all 50 states, sky dive, and climb the tallest mountain in East Asia: Jade Mountain in Taiwan.
• I'm pretty friendly, if I can say so myself, so feel free to ask me any other random questions :)