A week in South Africa: My Initial Thoughts

I’ve been in South Africa just over a week now. Time is flying by, even though I still have about a month left before I head home. 

I thought I’d be incredibly homesick and while I do miss my family, friends, and particularly Miss Lincoln, I’ve been doing just fine so far. Then again, talk to me in a week and maybe that will have changed. 

South Africa is a beautiful country, with some of the friendliest people I have ever met among my world travels. Each person I meet, introduces themselves and then tells me what their name means. Since a large portion of the South African culture is based on tribal communities, their names all have specific meanings based on their particular language. One of our driver’s told us his name meant “hope.” Another hotel worker, that her name meant “trustworthy.” A tour guide, that her name meant “love.” 

While the culture here has been a joy to be a part of, South Africa’s challenges are vast. While in some ways, South Africa appears to be a fully developed nation, it’s still learning and growing. It hasn’t quite reached its full potential. 

Housing and poverty in particular are major problems. I learned this week that many South Africans don’t even have a postal address. While they might know what community they live in or the area they reside in, they can’t give an actual address. Which makes things like mail and government assistance difficult. 

Electricity and internet are also challenges. Very few of the informal settlements and backyard shacks made of mud, bricks, cardboard or steel have electricity. While some of the shacks have access to these services via the main house (remember, many of these shacks are built in the backyard of established homes), many children go home to no lights or running water. 

Internet within the home is low and while a large portion of South Africans have cell phones, internet access via a mobile device is still a challenge. In the West Rand alone, less than ten percent of households have internet inside their homes. Many rely on cafes and schools to access the web. Again, this lack of connectivity makes it difficult for certain South Africans to get the support they need. Instead, they have to rely on taxis or their own feet - sometimes walking many miles - to reach government offices to apply for services, like housing subsidies or other governmental subsidies. 

I keep having to remind myself that this country didn’t fully come together until the early 1990s, after apartheid was abolished. So while they have accomplished so much in just 23 years, there is still work to be done. 

I’m hopeful that our team’s project, looking at the housing subsidy system, will be helpful. I’m hopeful whatever we deliver brings some relief and that we contribute in some way to their momentum. The people here are beyond passionate. They’re smart  and talented and committed to making a difference - if our project helps, even in a small way, then we’ll have been successful.