Building Bridges Program Blog

UBUNTU in our eyes...

2008-07-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

Zulu Word of the Day:

Ubuntu- (see below)

Ubuntu proved to be the overarching theme of our experience in South Africa. As a new concept, ubuntu resonated with each of us differently, and has become one of the many lasting parts of our attempt to build bridges in Durban. Below are our (separate) thoughts on ubuntu and what each of us understand it to mean...

Garey's thoughts, and some background info on UBUNTU

Ubuntu, is an ethic or humanist philosophy focusing on people's allegiances and relations with each other. The word has its origin in the Bantu languages of Southern Africa. Ubuntu is seen as a traditional African concept.

Attempting to offer a definition on the concept of Ubuntu Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1999) puts forth: A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.

Louw (1998) suggests that the concept of ubuntu defines the individual in terms of their several relationships with others. The Zulu maxim umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu ("a person is a person through other persons") in an African context, suggests that the person one is to become by behaving with humanity is an ancestor worthy of respect or veneration. Those who uphold the principle of ubuntu throughout their lives will, in death, achieve a unity with those still living.
Nelson Mandela describes Ubuntu using the following example: A traveller through a country would stop at a village and he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once he stops, the people give him food, entertain him. That is one aspect of Ubuntu but it will have various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people should not address themselves. The question therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable the community around you to be able to improve?
Although Ubuntu is a word, it is more its endemic humanity and connectedness where one begins to understand its meaning and significance.

Throughout my experience in South Africa I came to realize that Ubuntu was enmeshed in my very Being before I ever knew what the word, or concept, meant. It was during my short time there in 2000—on a study-abroad program—where I was embraced by several South Africans that peaked my current lifelong interest in South Africa. When I returned to South Africa in 2001 as a grad student the overwhelming connection to new friends and new families was something that was not to be taken lightly or for granted. When I would contact my family and friends in the U.S, they would ask what I liked about being in South Africa; I would simply respond “my interactions with people.” It was only after my first two years living in Durban that I began to expand on my simple response and tried to explain Ubuntu. The love, trust, care, respect, and support I gave and received never invoked profound thought but was a natural response relished.

I traveled quite a bit around Southern Africa during the five years I lived in South Africa. During those periods of travel I never once stayed in a hotel. I knew that letting my South African families or friends know that I was planning a trip they would contact someone they knew in the area or give me a number to contact when I arrived at my destination. I grew to never doubt that someone on the other end would be there to receive me and ensure that they “organized” my stay.

I knew my personal experience of Ubuntu was not something I could articulate well and was not even certain how it would play out beyond me. I was greatly humbled by Whitney, Alex, John, Prof. Scales and Prof. Webster experiences of Ubuntu. Below they share their experiences of “Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu.”

Dr. Webster's thoughts

Although this was my 4th trip to South Africa and I understood the meaning of Ubuntu on those previous occasions, the Building Bridges experience enhanced that understanding. Sharing a living space, meals and cultural exchanges with students, program staff and periodically local friends brought home the humanity aspect of Ubuntu. The ideal was manifested as our UKZN hosts and new friends became family, opening their homes and hearts to make us feel completely welcome. For me this family began with the woman who worked diligently to keep our living area comfortable to the Vice Chancellor of the University, who graciously shared her time and stories with us. In my experience Ubuntu is contagious and reciprical – we open up in response to the openness we experience.

John's thoughts...

Whenever one of my friends from South Africa wanted to explain Ubuntu to me, they would always use examples from real life. “That’s Ubuntu”, they would say. What I took from this was that Ubuntu was a lived philosophy, one not to be found in abstracted treatises, but in the actual relationships that are lived out in South Africa (and in other African countries). That being said, Ubuntu was the guiding principle of our entire trip. Whatever were our reasons for going there, ‘Ubuntu’ was the lesson that South Africans intended to impart on us. Instances that exemplified this principle abounded throughout our experience. I’ll talk about one.

I talked earlier about my stay in the Umlazi township. During this time, I hung out with guys who were about my age, some a little older. We did everything that young guys do on weekends in Umlazi; In fact, it wasn’t very different from hanging out with my friends at home in DC. We went by various guys’ houses, watched whatever was on TV, talked about any and everything, had some beers. This time of fellowship between men is deeply valued in Zulu culture. For instance, at one point as we sat over the house of a friend, Sakhile (a friend of my host, Mangoba) invited me to step outside and have a private chat. Towards the end of this chat, he explained that it is considered very disrespectful to seclude oneself from the rest of guys for a long time, as it is taken to mean that you do not value the company of your friends/family. As Mangoba humorously put it after explaining to me the Zulu habit of drinking from the same container, “We don’t hate each other”. And the closeness with which these men related to one another reflected just that; that not only did they ‘not hate’ one another, but they also unapologetically loved one another. Later, we went out to the shebeen (similar to a bar or tavern) and met some other guys, listened to some good house music, played some pool, had some more beers. All the while folks who I didn’t know, or had just met, would check in with me to see that I was okay, or to ask if they could do anything for me. They adopted me as a cousin, and even gave me a Zulu name, “Sbusiso”, which means blessing. When I talked, they were more attentive than I would have ever expected a person to be at a tavern. They listened intently, asked questions, noticed inconsistencies. I first thought that this only reflected a fascination with the foreign. But then I noticed that they talked to and interacted with each other just like this as well. Conversation, even in passing, was not merely a formality as it is so often in the states. I found that people really want to know about you, even when they ask “Howzit?” (Literally “How is it?”, similar to our “whats up”, “how are you?”). They are not expecting you to give a phoned-in, “fine. And you?” Then, the next morning after partying, I was wakened by Mangoba to go on a walk. I am normally disoriented in the morning (not a morning person), but I was even more confused because I did not understand where we were going, and further there was a sense of urgency in Mangoba’s stride that, upon waking up, I could not relate to. One by one, we visited each person that we hung out with the night before. Somewhere along the way, I realized that we were checking to see if everyone had gotten in safely. Most of the group did not own a cell phone, or a car, and what’s more, they lived sometimes 20 to 30 minutes away from one another (walking distance). So these long treks, as Mangoba would later explain, are embarked upon every morning after they hang out as an expression of the responsibility that they feel for one another. There was always what seemed to be a breath of relief once we had gotten to a friends house and found that they were perfectly fine. Just the same, I would immediately notice how pleased the guys were to see that I was okay. I reflected on the many morning-afters that my DC friends and I felt no need to reconnect even though, because we owned cell phones, it was easier for us to do so. It was not that our environment was not dangerous, because it was most of the times. We simply did not possess that sense of brotherly responsibility that would cause us to show the kind of concern for one another that was shown to me by guys I had just met in Umlazi. As Mangoba hiked purposefully onward, me following closely behind, to this or that friend’s house; as his friends enquired eagerly about the other friends he had previously visited; I learned about Ubuntu, without any of the guys ever so much as mentioning the word.

Alex's thoughts...

Upon arriving to Durban, I quickly learned that ubuntu was a concept that managed to become a part of every day life. It was difficult to understand. Ubuntu was first explained to me as “the idea that we are all connected” and that “I am, because you are.” This definition does not begin to explain how it manifests itself in everyday life. During our stay ubuntu was extended our way, by hosts and strangers, friends and acquaintances. Even as strangers, we learned how to extend ubuntu in the direction of others, and personally, I have carried that concept back across the Atlantic with me.

I believe the first time that I really started to understand ubuntu was during our first ride on the kombi. As we crammed into the backseat, the notion of personal space was dismantled. And as the newcomers to this mode of transportation, we seemed to be the only ones bothered by the compromise of space. Everyone else just kind of fell into place without a second thought. At our first stop, a woman and a young child awaited the kombi. In order to get herself situated, she passed her small child to a stranger sitting close to the door. Once she got comfortable, the man returned her child, who hadn’t flinched at all.

After the kombi made its way towards town, it was time to pay the driver. Each passenger gave their money to the next, and the payments made their way to the front, where a designated person counted it and returned the necessary change. Kombi passengers instilled their trust in one another throughout our stay. Though this is a small example of ubuntu, it jumped out to be early during our journey in KZN, and , though foreign to me, it seemed to just be another part of life in South Africa. Though this type of trust is accepted in smaller circles and subcultures, it is far from the norm in the US.

Ubuntu was exercised in larger ways as well. We were hosted by various individuals and families throughout many parts of KZN. In Zululand, Delani’s family opened the most intimate parts of their lives to us: their home, their stories, their food, and their love. In Umlazi, we had the chance to connect with people our age, and it became evident that ubuntu spans across generations. Nokulunga offered us countless learning opportunities, including visiting her own traditional healers, hanging out with her friends, attending her church service, and sharing very personal memories. We too attempted to practice ubuntu, and tried to be just as available as she, sharing our own experiences and offering the same amount of openness.

A broad concept like ubuntu can easily get caste aside as just a belief system, and its everyday significance can be forgotten. We were reminded every day of its significance when we were welcomed by our friends and hosts unconditionally. Trust, sacrifice, humility, good will… all of these pure qualities encompass what it means to practice ubuntu. To me, ubuntu is the manifestation of living in community in the truest sense, and into my own beliefs and thinking, I have adopted this South African way of life.

Whitney's thoughts...

The first time I was introduced to the word Ubuntu, it was the second morning in South Africa; we had been woken up to women in the dorm knocking on the door to use our shower. “Ubuntu!” said Garey, “what’s ours is theirs and what’s their’s in ours.” Simple. With that short and slightly annoying introduction I didn’t really think much of Ubuntu, I thought it was interesting but if it meant I didn’t have personal space then I was cautious to understand. The day I really felt inspired and gained a deeper understanding of Ubuntu was in the kombi. The four of us, Garey, John, Alex and I, were going into downtown with a friend and had to take a kombi to get there. Kombi’s squeeze a minimum of 12 people into a family-sized van, so the four of us squeezed into the back and watched as more and more people took a seat. Once the kombi was filled everyone knew to pass their money up to the front and in the very front, the passenger next to the driver counted the money and gave out change; this person did not know the driver, did not work for the kombi. And that’s how kombi’s work, everyone has a responsibility to look out for the other people; passing money back and forth and being trustworthy to everyone on broad. On that day I started to see Ubuntu as much more. I realized how beautiful the concept of caring for people, whether you know them or not, was. Once I saw how Ubuntu was more about being open to other people’s importance in your life, I started to appreciate it much more. When I think about Ubuntu now, I think about my commitment to the South Africans I met, I think about my openness (or my work to be more open) to others has changed. When I think about my responsibility to Ubuntu I think about the deep vow I’ve made within myself to see that this program continues. We started this program with the goal to really practice cross-cultural learning and a part of that is making sure South African students come to the US. What’s amazing about the word Ubuntu, is that it explains what cross-cultural experiences should really be. Ubuntu taught me to be open and accepting of the people who come in and out of my life because whether there is purpose to any relationship, every relationship is a reality. Ubuntu has dared me to embrace the way I move around the world, trying to connect with people in a way that makes respect, honesty, and authenticity center in my mind.

A Deeper Look

2008-07-25T00:50:00.000-07:00

Zulu Word of the Day:

Ilikishi- Township

Classroom Update

In the past week, we have had pleasure of sitting with three guest lectures, whom Dr. Webster invited to supplement our course material. The first professor we met was Dr. Bhana, currently an acting Dean in the Graduate Department of Education at UKZN. Her scholarship focuses on HIV/AIDS as it relates to youth, in conjunction with theories of gender, sexuality, and race. Her lecture gave a lot of clarity to our question of gender norms across differences, and the affects those norms have on topics such as HIV/AIDS testing, sex safer practices, consent, and the performance of masculinity. She also touched on the issue of homosexuality in South Africa, which has the support the legislation; however, the LGBTQ communities here remain socially marginalized and policed through violence. Our dialogue was so pertinent to previous classroom discussions and the overall theme of identity and culture because she gave an insider's perspective where a US lens would fall short. Upon leaving, Dr. Bhana expressed interest and support in seeing the collaboration of the two universities following through, especially in her ability to assist graduate students in field work placements and other research capacities.

We made a visit to the Edgewood campus of UKZN for the second lecture of the week, with Mr. Crispin Hemson and Dr. Dennis Francis. Both professors work in education but with specific scholarship on HIV/AIDS and social justice. Dr. Francis also holds the position of Head of School and has extensive research concerning race, gender and class relations within post-apartheid South Africa. Our lecture revolved around the racial climate in South Africa today. Since arriving, race has been something we are consistently having to reconsider because it is constructed differently from what we are used to in the US. Dr. Francis and Mr. Hemson challenged us to extract culture from race and not just consider the two mutually exclusive. This is because within South Africa and certainly anywhere else, race doesn't necessary define culture and nor does culture, race. This theoretical breakthrough has helped the three us see yet another dynamic that is crucial to the relevance of cross-cultural collaboration. Building Bridges serves as a means by which students can engage with other communities and individuals, yet mainly functions as a learning tool which can't be gained in ones own bubble of understanding. Being here has pushed us academically and socially, and added to our base of beliefs and understanding. We will return home with a new way to see our home. We will return to our classrooms, social settings, jobs, and families with something new that we believe would not have been gained without this experience.

Out and About

In conjunction with the community engagement portion of our program, we had a chance to visit Umlazi Township for the weekend. As previously mentioned, Umlazi is the second largest township in South Africa. The history of townships involves mandates from the apartheid government to segregate "races" (Black, White, Indian, and Coloured) from each other. Umlazi is primarily a Black African township.

This experience is quite difficult to convey, so bear with us. It is important to note that this type of community would not be recognizable in its entirety in a US context. The township combines a wide range of living situations, from self-built structures (informal settlements) to government-issued, four-roomed homes, to mansions. These structural elements do not completely define township life, however. It is easy to question the place townships now hold in post-apartheid South Africa. In fact this very question was raised at our dinner meeting with Consulate officials (as mentioned in another blog). The consensus in that conversation was that the defining feature of townships was the sense of community that is fostered there, but that did not become fully clear to us until our home stays.

From Friday until Sunday, we were hosted in different sections of Umlazi; John stayed in K section, and Alex and Whitney stayed in M section. We were informed that it was only appropriate for John to stay with a man, and Alex and Whitney to stay with a woman, so on Friday, we parted ways. Our hosts were formerly involved in a service learning program, headed by Garey, thus our connection to Umlazi. The weekend provided an opportunity to get to know our hosts and their family, and to also learn more about their community.

Alex and Whitney spent the weekend with Nokulunga, who lives with her mother and father, and a host of sisters, brothers, and other smaller children; other family members periodically stay with them, such as her grandmother. In addition, it is a part of Zulu culture for young men to move out of the main house, and either into a smaller sleeping area on the same grounds, or to another relative's house where no young women live, as they approach adulthood. One of her brothers lived in such a place directly behind the house. The idea behind this is to encourage independence and responsibility.

A large portion of the weekend in M section was spent walking with Nokulunga, where we soaked up every part of the environment, including catching up with family and friends, food shopping for the family, hailing taxis, and taking care of other family business, like buying electricity and Airtime cards. Nokulunga took us to visit an nyanga and a sangoma (traditional healers), which was both a humbling and exciting experience. The nyanga happened to be her grandfather, and the sangoma lived very close to her home as well. The proximity of these individuals showed how accessible these types of resources are in many areas of Zulu culture. Each explained how they came to fulfill their respective roles, and how those roles affect their lives. The experience with both was enlightening and personal, and a rare opportunity to better understand such a vital part of Zulu life.

Because of safety and the community norms of Umlazi, women aren't as freely able to travel without a man after dark. Since Nokulunga lives with mostly women, our evenings were spent indoors, watching movies, and talking. In yet another way to enlighten us about South African history, we watched Sarafina, a South African classic. The movie details the 1976 uprisings against the oppressive apartheid regime, and specifically the education system, which mandated that students learn Afrikaans. We also watched Yesterday, a more recent movie illustrating the struggle of HIV/AIDS stigma, as well as the gender dynamics of the virus, and the limited access to healthcare for people living in rural areas. Watching these two movies provided a comprehensive look at two of the biggest struggles within South African society: Apartheid (and the struggle to dismantle it), and the broad-reaching effects of HIV/AIDS. For more information about these movies and the events that inspired them please visit the following links:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303297/

http://www.yesterdaythemovie.co.za/

http://www.sarafina.co.za/

On Sunday morning, before leaving, we had the opportunity to attend a church service with Nokulunga. As we arrived we were greeted by congregants, and were throughout the service publicly thanked for attending. The service was entirely in Zulu but Nokulunga did a wonderful job in helping us to understand what was being said. The church experience certainly gave us a window into the way that spirituality is infused into the culture and lives of the Zulu people.

John was hosted by Mangoba and his experience differed in that he was in the company of males all weekend. Mangoba lived with his mother, three sisters, and many younger children. Mangoba, like many other young men his age, had moved out of his mother's house and built a smaller place of abode on the grounds. Most of the weekend, however, was spent away from his place of residence.

We first went to meet a few of Mangoba's closest friends, who became our companions for the entire weekend. In this small group was fostered a sense of brotherhood that John immediately felt a part of. Every activity was done together. Often, the men sat around watching soccer, and talking about politics, all while drinking from the same bottle that sat in the middle. The conversation touched a wide-ranging array of topics, such as the ANC, Zimbabwe, the xenophobic attacks, and Nelson Mandela's birthday, which the world celebrated last Friday. The guys also had a lot to ask John about the US, black/African relations in the US, and class conditions. They were quite surprised to hear that HIV/AIDS posed a major problem in the United States as well.

At mealtimes, the guys would venture back to Mangoba's house, where his mother had prepared dinner. Dinner often included putu, a delicious crumbly porridge made from cornmeal, and a curried beef stew. Late Friday night, the electricity went out as a result of what is called "load shedding", a government initiative made to counteract the high demand of power. Even though the power did not come back on until early Sunday morning, the guys went on about their day as usual. Mangoba's mother, on the other hand, had to buy gas in order to cook dinner without electricity. Throughout the day the guys would embark on long walks to this or that person's house in the vast and dense expanses of Umlazi. During the nights, the guys would travel to the tavern, or shebeen, where there would be much dancing, playing pool, and socializing. Females do not customarily go to these taverns. The next day, the guys would always meet up just to make sure that everyone had gotten home safely. Not many had cell phones so at times this would involve lengthy walks to the house of a friend. "I am my brother's keeper", seemed to be the motto of the weekend.

Overall our weekend in Umlazi gave us another way to see life in KZN. Going to someone?s home is the best way to see the rich details of an individual's culture and how it truly informs their identity. Further, we did not have to rely on our naive Western lens but could digest the surroundings and experiences with the help of our friends and their families. These ties to people our age went beyond what the classroom could have provided and with it came lasting relationships, which will also grow far past the end of this journey. As our classroom update explained, our time in Umlazi has given us something new and truly authentic that breaks through our assumptions and at the same time, gives us the space to re-evaluate ourselves.

The Project

A word from our Program Director, Garey Davis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9cv1i8Cvdw

*Due to the nature of our stay and the privacy that we're trying to uphold, there are a lack of pictures for this post.

Engaging Community: Memorial braai and Fundraising

2008-07-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

During the course of our community engagement project at StreetWise, the shelter experienced a tragic loss. Sadly, loss was not unfamiliar to these mostly-orphaned boys. In an effort to do whatever we could to alleviate financial and emotional costs, the Building Bridges program partnered with other international service learning programs, as well as campus groups, to both fundraise for the funeral and to throw a memorial braai (or barbecue) for the boys. We were thankful to have at the very least an opportunity to lift the boys’ spirit. Fortunately it turned out to be a big success. On this day, the boys seemed happier than they had been in a long while. Below are some of the highlights from our American-style braai and also some pics from our fundraising. Check it out!

BOYS SHELTER FUNDRAISER PICS

BOYS SHELTER BRAAI PICS

Preparation is no easy task...

2008-07-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

Zulu Phrase of the Day:

Sisebenza kakhulu- We're working hard.

Classroom Update:

Wise Words from the Prof.

Out and About:

As we mentioned in the previous post, this last week has been focused on establishing connections with key Student Affairs entities at UKZN. The Director of the Multicultural Research and Resource Center, Dr. Renay Scales, was here during our second week (her perspective to come soon!), and diligently engaged senior ranking UKZN administrators; she's paved the way for us to do the same this past week. Because of the connections Dr. Scales has made with senior staff and matters of university collaboration, our meetings have focused on hands-on, student collaboration.

On Tuesday, we had a chance to meet with the president of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at UKZN. SRC is the equivalent of Mason's Student Government, and members of the SRC sit on every committee at UKZN; they also oversee all student organizations on campus. The purpose of our meeting was to determine ways in which Building Bridges can foster links between student leaders at Mason and UKZN. Our meeting also include the planning of a dual university fundraiser. We've decided to first engage in a small scale fundraiser for Streetwise (the organization we're volunteering with) for the remainder of our stay here that will lead to larger partnerships. This fundraiser also ties into the Community Engagement part of the Building Bridges initiative, and acts as a personification of our objectives coming together.

Tuesday night, we met with a United States diplomat here in Durban, who works as a Management Officer for the U.S. Consulate General. She welcomed us into her home, and cooked a wonderful dinner. Around the dinner table, we discussed a variety of topics, including her work as a diplomat in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Nigeria, and her experiences so far here in Durban. We talked extensively about PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), and she explained that, although U.S. funding has been put forth, there hasn’t been very much education about the U.S.’s role in this initiative. We told her about our program, and what we hope to accomplish immediately, as well as in the future, and she was interested in hearing our perspective on our experiences so far. The conversation also touched on the rich culture of Durban, and the easy access to such events as international film festivals, poetry readings, dance performances, and art galas.

Wednesday we met with the Director of the AIDS Program here at UKZN. The AIDS Program includes full coverage of ARV treatment and counselling for students, and an extensive Peer Education program. Through the AIDS Program we hope to realize the full vision of Building Bridges, and have Peer Educators from UKZN travel to the United States. The AIDS Program focuses on a broad range of social justice issues, such as women’s empowerment. The Director explained that his plans for the Peer Education Program are to encourage students to look beyond their academic field, and embrace the interconnectedness between different aspects of society, such as industry, health and the economy.

Alex, Whitney, the AIDS Program Director, Dr. Williams, Garey, and Dr. Webster

Wednesday night was a vibrant, necessary meeting with UKZN medical students who act as Peer Educators as well. As a part of their clinical work, medical students help run a clinic and orphanage in rural KZN. They were helping us plan the full-length version of Building Bridges by discussing community engagement possibilities for the future in Durban, as well as opportunities for South African students in the U.S. These students had a wide-range of expertise, and expressed a deep respect and responsibility to their campus community. Meeting with these students helped reinforce the purpose of the Building Bridges Program, and the value in true cross-cultural exchange. When we return to the U.S., we will keep in contact with UKZN students, and especially the medical students we met, and include them in the further planning of the program.

Thursday included more community engagement with Streetwise, as well as a visit to the clinic here on campus. The clinic offers primary health care services to students, voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT), and referrals to local hospitals. In addition, they provide direct treatment to students, free of cost, and also nutrition counselling and family planning. The nurse explained that, where HIV is concerned, the clinic is challenged in that high-risk populations, such as students having unprotected sex, are more reluctant to get tested. Other challenges include being greatly understaffed, and not being able to accommodate many walk-in clients, which could side track a students desire to get tested.

The Project:

As mentioned above, we’ve decided to collaborate with UKZN student groups to raise money for Streetwise, the local boys’ shelter we’ve been working with. We have created flyers and have begun to spread the word around campus about this cause. Since students are starting to refill the dorms, it’s a perfect time for this event, and we plan to fully launch our fundraising efforts on Monday of next week. This event has the immediate benefit of supplying Streetwise with much needed resources and funding, but also provides an opportunity for future collaboration between Building Bridges and the Durban community.

This weekend we will be travelling to Umlazi township to stay until Sunday. In addition to finding out more about township life from our hosts, we will also be meeting with the principal of a school to discuss ways in which students can exchange with youth in the U.S., and also participating in a range of cultural exchanges and activities.

Our "Res." Hooray for CJ!!!

Any time's a good time for BREAKFAST!

2008-07-14T07:06:00.001-07:00

Zulu Word of the Day:
Ngi lambile- I'm hungry!!!

Last night we held a Culture Share which was an opportunity for GMU students and UKZN students to engage in a cultural exchange to discuss important issues such as media, activism, politics, and race. We started the night by preparing a dinner for our guests. We wanted to offer our guests an American-style meal and so we decided to cook breakfast for dinner. John handled the bacon, sausage and eggs, Alex put a hurting on some country fried potatoes, and Whitney blessed us all with her world-famous french toast. A great time was had by all. The night ended with a cross-cultural discussion that continued into the wee hours of the morning. Take a look at our pics!

Students hard at work

More preparation...

The french toast was goooooooood.

Finally, dinner time!!

Some of our friends.

Dr. Webster and one of our guests.

More guests.

SMILE!

2008-07-13T05:04:00.000-07:00

Picture Post!!

Crammed in a cab...

We like to be close...transport to Zululand

Where Garey use to work.

A Bob Marley mural on campus

Puppy!!!!!

John is a Zulu-man in training. He's doing well.

Always end on a sunset.

We are the world, we are the childern!

2008-07-13T04:32:00.000-07:00

Zulu Phrase of the Day:

Igama lami... - My name is...

Classroom Update:

The first part of Healing Our Differences covered in our seminar with Dr. Webster have come alive and complemented our experiences nicely. Though Airhihenbuwa does not solely focus on Durban or even South Africa, we have been able to see his ideas manifest here in a real and powerful way. The chapter on youth (Chapter 6: Omon- The Cultural Meanings of Childhood and Youth Identity) has been so relevant to our experiences thus far. Our understanding of what it means to grow up in Durban is constantly expanding as we continue to meet and engage with UKZN students and other young people in Durban.

Airhihenbuwa started the chapter by talking about the process of naming children and its importance in many African cultures. Think for a second about your own name and how your parents or relatives decided on it. Although the three of us have a first or middle name of a relative, we discussed in class that it is not very common for US Americans to know the meaning behind their name. It is often the case that names in the US are chosen for how they sound, and not necessarily what they mean. However, here in KZN and in Zulu culture, naming is a very different process. Most of the people we have met so far know the meaning behind their name, as well as a story that led to the choosing of that name. For example, one boy at Streetwise explained that his name meant “hush” or “quiet,” because as a baby, he did not cry. Others have names that mean “powerful” or “alive” because of illnesses they battled as infants. Naming, as we’ve come to understand it in the Zulu and KZN contexts, is quite different from the culture in the US.

Our last post focused on family in Zulu culture, particularly our experiences with Delani’s family; our conversation on youth helped make other aspects clear. Amongst Zulus, there is no word or concept for half brother, half sister, step-mother or step-father. A distinction can obviously be made, but it is not a part of the culture to really consider a half-sibling any different from a full sibling. In addition, traditionally cousins on the father’s side are regarded as siblings, though this may or may not play out currently. The nuclear family as we understand it has a different structure, and includes many more siblings, and multiple mothers or fathers in many cases. Talking to students here at UKZN and hearing them say “One of my mothers…” made this point clear. Airhihenbuwa also makes the point that children are often called “male/female child” as opposed to son or daughter, because the latter terms have a way of isolating the parent-child relationship, where the former allows other family members (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) take part in raising and nurturing.

Lwazi and his daughter... Her name means "beautiful"!

Out and About:

An important aspect of the Building Bridges program involves community engagement and its supplementation by academic instruction. This past week we began our work at an orphanage. The orphanage, called “Streetwise”, is a refuge for young boys in the Durban that live on the street, and it is run by the Durban Methodist Church. The stated aims of “Streetwise” include:

Offer Humanitarian aid to the children living on the streets of South Africa, pending reconciliation with their families.
Assess the needs and circumstances of the children, tracing their families and affecting reconciliation with families where possible,
Offer life skills and social skills training to facilitate re-integration into the community.
Address the educational needs of the children by providing bridging education and placing them into mainstream schools wherever possible.
Impact on National Policy regarding the rights of street children.
Referring children to other services as and when necessary.
Liaising and networking with other relevant organizations

Arriving at about 8:00 a.m. we were greeted by about 25 young boys, aged seven to fourteen, and very soon after we were kicking the ball around the soccer field. We eventually got a game together, and were totally ‘schooled’ by the boys in the game of soccer. The contrast of the boys’ graceful, organized play on the one hand, and our sloppy, freewheeling antics on the other was impossible not to notice. But it was all in good fun and we learned several great tricks from the boys, that we plan to employ on some unsuspecting soccer contender in the states. Snacks were served throughout the day, and a lunch was prepared at about 11:30. All day we simply were absorbed into the playworld of boys, who whisked us through games of dominoes, pool, basketball, volleyball, and soccer, and also played for us their favorite songs of South African House music, taught us the “happening” dances, and the creative ways that the youth greet one another. Because “Streetwise” has addressed some of the most basic needs of these boys, they are free to just be boys. Their sheer energy for life is infectious. Sometimes some of the boys, such as our little buddy “Cipho”, would break out into song with voices that are so beautiful you just wouldn’t believe. It is exciting to have this opportunity to connect with Durban-area youth in ways that are for the most part structured by the youths themselves, and to appreciate the way that zulu culture is lived by the young. And of course we are learning so much from the “Streetwise” child care workers who dedicate their lives to the plight of youth. We will have more for you as we continue this experience.

Here is the link to “Streetwise” where you can find a lot of great info on the place: http://www.street-wise.co.za/about.htm

Basketball game in Umlazi Township... Notice John, in flight.

The Project:

Half of our trip is over and while we have completed a lot of tasks and managed to have tons of fun, the next two weeks will be focused and jam packed. Next week we'll be making contacts with the Student Government to design a dual-university fundraiser that seeks to support a local organization. When the program continues next year, our US students will have the opportunity to volunteer, as a part of their service learning requirement, to work with the organization we pick. Also, provided the amount of time we have, we might try to sponsor an event on campus in the next two weeks. Of course, this would include collaborations with South African students and possibly the other international students on campus.

In addition to our work at UKZN, we will continue to volunteer with StreetWise two days a week and take our class. This weekend we will be enjoying our homestays in Umlazi. A few of Garey's graduated peer-educators are finding us hosts and we are working to plan a Day of Action event in the township. On Friday of last week we did a small driving tour of Umlazi and got a quick look at three schools. When we go back this Friday we're all interested and excited to meet the youth that attend those schools.

The passion that we've gained during the first two weeks will greatly help us stay on task for the rest of our time. There's a lot of work that needs to get done. At times it's incredible how the time has flown and yet we still have so much time to enjoy what we're doing. This week we've been invited to a number of dinners and BBQs, including a meeting with a US consulate. These happenings will provide us with the downtime and fun needed to keep us going!

UKZN Campus

A monkey!

A Weekend in Zululand

2008-07-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

Zulu Word of the Day:

Umndeni - Family

Out and About

This past weekend was all about Zululand. In a number of different fashions we were able to learn and live the more traditional way of Zulu life. Our home for the weekend was the house of Delani’s father. Though this is Delani’s first mention in the blog, he has been an amazing friend and character in our journey so far. He and his wife picked us up from the airport, taught us our first Zulu words, and patiently watched as we grew comfortable with KZN (the KwaZulu-Natal Region). Delani is an old friend of Garey’s and brings a calm vibe that is absolutely wonderful. Any chance to be with Delani, we want. Yet another form of his generosity and spirit of Umbuntu (a concept we promise to explain further in future blogs), Delani connected us with his father and helped us fully experience Zululand.

Umndeni (family), our word for the day, is the core of our “cultural lesson” of Zululand. It is central because the inner operations of a Zulu family are essential to life here. When we met Delani’s father, we were immediately accepted into the family. To respectfully address Delani’s father in his house was to call him Baba (father). To respectfully appreciate Baba was to take all that he offered and to be with him and listen to him. These simple practices explain a lot about Zulu family. Try for a second not to process this through US eyes and really understand that Baba is the center, second only to his own father. Baba controls his family not in a dictator sense (that’s a US eye), but through the Zulu idea of blood, pride, knowledge, and power. Baba is the head of his house and family because he is the main carrier of the blood which runs through the rest of his line. Zulus see family mostly through the father. Fathers will take main responsibility of children and their growth. Mothers are mainly seen as vessels…don’t cringe…try to understand that this is not intended to be seen by a non-Zulu. A mother has a well respected place and there is also a strong African-feminist movement and thought in South Africa. We maintain the focus on Baba because it’s the way we observed our surroundings; as we see more we will be better equipped to explain our perceived role of other family members.

That said, traditional Zulu families center on Baba. Examples:

Baba’s brother is not called “uncle” but rather ubabomkhulu (Bigger Baba for an older brother) or ubabomncane (Little Baba for a younger brother)

If a child is in need, whether it be financial, marital, spiritual, legal, etc. no family member will give assistance, support, or advice if not first referred by Baba. If a child is aloof from his/her father, a disconnect will form between the elders of the family and that person. This is so because for an uncle, sibling, cousin, etc to step in without consultation of Baba, is a huge disrespect.

These examples all allude to the fact that Baba carries a large amount of responsibility for a family. Especially in marriage situations and the “success” of a child, the father is seen as a vital factor. Our experiences with Delani’s family were great, in the sense that everyone was willing to share stories and thoughts, and actively sought relationships with us. While the weekend sparked comparisons and some struggles to understand, our observations come from a spirit of sharing, so that the program can actually communicate the experiences.

The first morning that we woke up the youngest daughter and son of Baba were working around the house. The daughter was fixing water for all of the guests. Water in Zululand (also called the Bush or countryside) is largely collected from rainfall. The water is then stored, boiled at some point, and used for bathing, cooking, etc. The daughter then fed the chickens and roosters, cleaned up around the house, watered the garden, and other small duties. The son was also busy making concrete bricks, which John and Whitney both gave a try.

For meals you’re expected to share and serve everyone. If one person gets up for a drink of water, it is customary to ask everyone else and then serve those who have asked. Meals are only started once everyone is present at the table and each dish is ready.

Our short but full visit to Zululand feels necessary to share but difficult. One weekend makes us all far from experts and it’s likely none of us will ever reach that level of understanding. We wish to document the journey in hopes of continued insight and with the truth that we are mere outsiders, looking in with foreign eyes. In our quest for the meaning of “building bridges”, umndeni reflects the depth of Zulu culture and our own; both seen as the roots of a person.

A Lesson in Brick Building

Classroom Update

In addition to spending time with Delani's family, our weekend also consisted of visiting the Mseleni Hospital not far from their home. We first visited with a physician who solely provides services for those affected by HIV and AIDS. As this relates to the classroom component of our program, we were all excited to get his perspective on things we have been learning during our sessions with Dr. Webster. He explained that he grew up and completed his medical education in the UK, and has been practicing in South Africa for about a year. Though HIV/AIDS was an interest of his upon completing medical school, he came to rural KwaZulu-Natal because of the death of a friend with a serious dedication to the cause. As one of seven international physicians that see about 70,000 patients, he and his colleagues depend greatly on the support and work of the nursing staff. On a normal day, he said that he sees 20 patients in the ward during the morning, and about 40 clinic patients in the afternoon. The doctor described his patients as ranging "from newborns to old ladies," and added that their HIV status is often coupled with the most difficult opportunistic infections to treat, such as MDR-TB (multidrug resistant tuberculosis).

As he talked, he expressed the many challenges that he faces on a daily basis. Basic human needs, such as food, are not met for many of the people he treats. To counter this, Mseleni has started a program in which patients are provided with food for themselves and their families. In addition to addressing health issues in this part of the Bush, Mseleni is addressing other needs and structural problems with this program.

The doctor described that many of the patients he sees for the first time are not just HIV-positive, but have also progressed to AIDS by the time they reach Mseleni, reflecting an absence of testing, and therefore a lapse in treatment. Though rapid testing has helped in providing community members with a more efficient way of knowing their HIV status, there are still struggles in this area, particularly with newborns. Babies produce their mother's antibodies for the first parts of their lives, so if a mother is HIV-positive, a newborn's antibody test will show up positive for the first six months of their life. For this reason, a DNA test must be used to truly determine the HIV status of a newborn, and HIV DNA tests require a waiting period of at least a few weeks. The doctor explained that many do not return to find out results of their child's test, leaving countless families unaware of the status of their children.

One of his biggest struggles was his negotiation of the intersection of traditional Zulu healing and Western medicine. Traditional Zulu practices involve seeking the advice of a sangoma or nyanga (traditional healers) for physical, emotional or spiritual ailments. Public and private hospitals in KZN operate from the auspices of Western medical care that we are accustomed to in the US. However, the doctor attested to the fact that many of his patients solicit sangomas or nyangas to help them deal with both HIV and the side effects caused by harsh medications. Though he wasn't necessarily critical of these practices, he did present this aspect of Zulu culture as a choice that one had to make (Western or traditional medicine), rather than an inseparable part of Zulu life and convention. So many parts of "Healing Our Differences" (the textbook for our course) came alive in this conversation, and we later debriefed our dialogue with the doctor, addressing the important roles that identity and culture play in the delivery of health care.

Unfortunately, our conversation with the doctor was cut short. He happened to be on call for the weekend and was paged from the hospital, so he had to leave abruptly, but invited us back if we had additional questions later in the day.

Before leaving, we also had a chance to meet with Delani's cousin, Sipho, who worked as a HIV counselor at Mseleni for six years. To supplement the work of other staff at Mseleni, the HIV counselors help patients socially and emotionally manage the disease. Unlike the entirely Western physician team, all of the HIV counselors are South African, and have a direct cultural connection to the communities they serve. Sipho shared that many of the counselors themselves are HIV positive, and are able to advise and counsel patients from an experienced frame of reference. Where conventional Zulu medicine is concerned, he explained that many people use traditional practices in combination with Western medicine, and it often presents a challenge to medical staff who are not indoctrinated to South African culture.

Our experience at Mseleni gave a practical application to our course work with Dr. Webster. The cultural prisms of both the doctor and Sipho indicate and dictate their perceptions of Zulu culture and the patients they work with. At the center of all health behavior is culture, and this became apparent in the stories and experiences shared by both the doctor and Sipho.

The Project

It was inevitable that our path would lead to Zululand.

Of course it’s true that a strengthening of the institutional linkage between George Mason University and the University of KwaZulu-Natal is a primary objective of the Building Bridges program. The deeper significance of the program, however—and also of the institutional linkages that are component to it—are to be found in the bridges built between persons. That is to say, we are successful only so far as we are able to intimately share in cultural exchange, to both gain and allow access to the precious confines of meaning, and to upon this foundation of cultural brotherhood endeavor to address grave social issues.

Inasmuch as this is true, it is inevitable that we will visit Zululand again; because in the province of KwaZulu-Natal—and to a lesser extent, in South Africa in general—Zulu culture is where meaning resides. South Africans are actually forced to learn both Afrikaans (a Dutch-derived language spoken by Afrikaners) and English as they make their way through primary and secondary schooling. Yet, it is the Zulu language that courses as lifeblood through the province. The flowing, almost musical intonations of this language can be heard from all corners and from people of all ethnic varieties. One quickly begins to understand the sign that greets him or her upon arrival at the airport: “Welcome to Zulu Country!” And if the province is Zulu country, Zululand is its heartland. It’s where many people of Zulu heritage live—whether the relatives of city-dwellers that subsist themselves on livestock and self-grown crops, or urban workers who themselves drive into the city from the rural areas.

Constantly we are told here that South Africa is not a nation, but rather the land of the Zulus, the Xhosa’s, the Sotho’s, the Swazi’s and so on. We are told that the loyalties and hearts of the people lie with the symbols and traditions of these ethnic groups, and not with the nation-state of South Africa. Nowhere is this more clear than in Zululand, where Zulu culture is so central (and “South Africa” so marginal) that it can sometimes make the glitzy cities of the province seem like the outskirts. Even those who live in the city regularly make the 4-6 hour trip out to Zululand. Ethnic groups, such as the Zulus, are conceived as alliances of families, reflecting the centrality of family in Zulu culture. In the cities, names take on secondary importance as people almost exclusively refer to even strangers as “bhuti” and “sissie”, or brother and sister. In this way, urban relations seem to draw from traditional family life.

This is just a snippet of the overwhelming sense one feels that Zulu culture is grounded in the serene villages and towns of Zululand. The humble plots, called “crawls” that pepper the rolling landscape always include several structures that have been built by hand and that draw from Zulu architecture. The bricks for the houses are made with cement mix and water. Stones are sometimes used for further insulation. Many of the houses are crowned with beautiful thatched roofs. The crawls will often also include a round hut-like structure made of lighter materials, to be used for storage and other purposes and a battery of guest houses, all built by hand. Gardens of sweet potatoes and many other crops, and chicken coupes that flutter with plump hens and regal cocks round out the crawls.

In Zululand, self-reliance prevails in ways so striking that it can be confusing for a westerner. This can be observed in the private confines of family life or just as easily in the numerous village centers and programs that address issues such as malnutrition and HIV/AIDS. Not only do tales of the great warrior-king Shaka Zulu abound throughout the land, but also does his spirit; the spirit of independence and groundedness in the wisdom of a culture that has withstood the test of time. We are not experts, and what we relay are the observations of infantile eyes and the record of ears that have been open to the wisdom of the people. And what they have seemed to tell us is that to understand any issue of the province—whether civil strife or HIV/AIDS—one must first begin to understand Zulu culture, and the heart of this culture is Zululand. The heart of the province is Zululand, and the more we set out to develop brotherhood and fellowship with not gaming reserves and beaches but the people and their own beloved symbols and traditions—symbols and traditions that have survived the encroachment of western impositions—the more we actually build the kind of bridges for which this program was established.

The little puppy that won everyone's heart, except Garey.

Mint Candy, Bridge Building and the Indian Ocean

2008-07-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Zulu Word of the Day
Siyahamba - Let's go!

Classroom Update:

So far in our morning sessions with Dr. Webster we have discussed how to address issues of health and illness from within the experiences of local cultures, and how not to impose foreign theories and methods onto cultural situations for which they are unsuited. Our two books include “Healing Our Differences” by Collins Airihenbuwa, and “28 Stories” by Stephanie Nolen.

The first book, “Healing Our Differences”, analyzes the failures of Western intervention in the health matters of Africa and prescribes a fresh approach to this time-worn issue. Through three chapters of this book we have broached and come to terms with a number of important issues that bear upon our HIV/AIDS work here in Durban, South Africa, including: the importance of identity in developing health policy and the inequitable outcomes of “identity-neutral” health policy, some effective ways of “thinking globally and acting locally” or of addressing large-scale social issues by fully appreciating and working within the specificity of given cultural traditions/practices, and, finally, the ways that language itself is an organ of culture and one that can inflict grave injury when imposed without reflection on unfamiliar cultural arrangements.

Stephanie Nolen, in “28 Stories”, takes a more intimate approach to the subject as she weaves together the personal tales of hardship and perseverance that, although nothing more than a record the daily tasks of survival for the millions who are infected, together constitute what we distantly refer to as the AIDS pandemic. In this book we’ve so far discussed the author’s own experiences that eventually led her to dedicate her life to AIDS awareness, and also Nelson Mandela’s announcement of, and the world’s reaction to, the news of his son’s succumbing to the menace of AIDS. As you may be able to tell by now, the instruction given by Dr. Webster casts a constructively critical eye to Western health intervention in Africa, while not allowing us to become so bogged down in the world of “concepts” and “discourses” that we lose sight of the very human reason that brings us here.

Out and About:

On Tuesday we traveled into town for the community engagement part of the day. For the first time, our group had a chance to experience Durban outside of UKZN. Garey’s friend Lwazi* joined us on our journey. The two met during a peer education workshop at Lwazi’s high school. He explained how Garey sparked his interest in HIV/AIDS work and peer education, and the two have been friends since. He is from the Umlazi township, which is about 45 minutes from campus, and lives with his mother and sister.

UKZN is on their Winter Holiday right now, so like Mason, the campus is a lot quieter than usual. Downtown, however, was quite the opposite. Our journey began by taking a “kumbi” (a taxi) to our destination. Forget your image of a yellow cab. The kumbi is an 11-passenger van that transports people to and from various locations. To hail a kumbi, you gesture with your pointer finger pointed upwards to indicate that you are headed to town. At the pick up point, the kumbi waits until it is filled with anywhere from 11 to 16 passengers. Then, once the driver pulls off, everyone passes their money forward, indicating how many passengers they are paying for. Though it may seem like the seat next to the driver is the best (because it’s more spacious) the front-seated passenger is often in charge of collecting the payments and doling out change. The kumbi costs about 6 rand to get to town (the exchange rate is 8 rand: 1 dollar), and involves a complex system of routes and rules that drivers are expected to follow.

On the kumbi, we were all able to observe aspects of South African culture that are quite different from what we are used to in the US. The passing of the money to the front showed a level of trust and respect among riders. Women were often helped on and off the kumbi, and small children were held by strangers while their parents got situated. It was interesting to then compare these experiences to public transportation in the US, where it is taboo to strike up a conversation, let alone trust a stranger with your money.

After surviving the spatial constraints of the kumbi, we arrived to downtown Durban. We were dropped off close to the boardwalk, so we walked about 5 blocks to get a view of the Indian Ocean. Lwazi explained that Zulus believe that their ancestors come from the sea, so the beach as somewhat of a sacred place. Zulus view sea water as having many healing powers so often Zulus that live far inland we take gallons of water with them while leaving. Similarly, Zulu healings/doctors (known as Sangoma or Nyanga) use sea water for many cleansing practices.

After leaving the ocean front, we went to another part of the city called the Workshop. It consists largely of open air markets, stores, malls and vendors. Upon exiting one store, we watched a group of about 10 girls, ranging from toddlers to teenagers, performing traditional Zulu dance. Some people sat and watched, others stopped briefly, and more walked by, singing as they passed. Though we knew on some level how much music is a part of the culture here, that point became clear at this moment.

Whitney and Dr. Webster also enjoyed large amount of mint candy, of course sharing graciously with the group.

*Names will be changed throughout this blog, for the respect and privacy of those we meet.

The Project:

As part of our program, we want to engage in a project that will truly build bridges. We want this project to be collaborative and highly useful to the community/communities that we engage with. Our project will also need to be within our means, during our stay, and have a large piece focused on HIV/AIDS. These are all guidelines that we’ve created as a group and it’s important to us to be mindful of the issues that have come up in our academic lessons such as identity, culture, and global health.

Since meeting Lwazi, we’ve started to brainstorm ideas for a “Day of Action” in the township of Umlazi. Townships are locations and homes that where designed during the Apartheid era. Townships were made to house single racial groups in order for the Apartheid government to separate and control non-white people. The education in townships, along with housing and access to water and electricity are extremely below the standard of most other areas in South Africa. The purpose of townships was to separate, and thus illustrate the discrimination and violence implemented by the Apartheid government. Since the end of Apartheid the education system and housing system in townships are changing. A lot of funding and programs are growing and starting in the townships. That said, much of the funding is focused on treatment of AIDS instead of prevention.

While we were talking to Lwazi, he suggested doing small workshops on topics of interest. Lwazi told us that the message of sex-safe and use of condoms is rampant through out the township. Young people know all about AIDS and the transmission of HIV; the problem is that, much like in the US, people think they can avoid the disease. To add in an element of fun we’re planning on having a soccer game between the high school in the township and another team. The opposing soccer team isn’t quite put together; perhaps we will find people from the University and build our own team.

The success of this project will largely be in our ability to connect with other people and find ways to present old-knowledge in a new way, or rather, find ways to empower young people in the township to organize safer-sex workshops and conversations themselves.

We hope that you've enjoyed this post. Please post comments and let us know about any questions you have.

Behold...the Indian Ocean!

SAWUBONA!

2008-07-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Zulu Word of the Day:

Sawubona - Hello

We arrived in South Africa on Sunday and after having a few days to shake off jet-lag we are ready to start blogging. Our experience here will include an academic portion, where we're focusing on global health, identity and HIV/AIDS in a South African context, as well as what we are calling a cultural engagement portion. For this part we'll be exploring different parts of the KwaZulu-Natal Province (major city: Durban) and drawing connections between our classroom and the parts of the culture we've become immersed in.

But First!

Who are we???

Where are we???

Our highly connected, top chef, director: T. Garey Davis

Garey Davis studied and lived in South Africa for six years, during which he pursued a master's degree in education, organized peer-educators around HIV/AIDS and initiated service learning in high schools on a number of issues. He is now leading U.S. students to do the same. His passion and drive comes after years of military service and traveling all over the world. His service years combined with the work that he's done in multicultural learning and education brought him to George Mason University first as a student in the Individualized Studies program, and then the Program Coordinator for students in the Multicultural Research and Resource Center (MRRC). In the years since he has returned from South Africa, Mr. Davis has continued to foster his knowledge and commitment to Zulu culture in Durban, and issues surrounding HIV/AIDS from his home in the U.S. to his adopted home in South Africa. Mr. Davis is the prime catalyst for the emergence of the Building Bridges Program.

Our fearless, chocolate craving, professor: Dr. J. Dewitt Webster

Dr. J. DeWitt Webster is Assistant Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University. He teaches courses in Community health, health behavior/health education, and international health. His research addresses culture and identity in the context of health behavior; program planning, implementation, and evaluation; and health promotion initiatives through community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches. He has collaborated with UNAIDS, USAID, WHO, CDC , international foundations, federal and state ministries of health and NGOs on efforts around HIV/AIDS prevention and care, maternal and child health, and cancer prevention in Nigeria, South Africa and the United States. Dr. Webster earned his PhD in Biobehavioral Health from the Pennsylvania State University and his MPH in Community Health Education from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

THE BLOG MASTERS...

Whitney Gecker, Class of 2009

Whitney is a senior at George Mason University studying Interdisciplinary Studies at New Century College. She is creating her own major entitled "Race, Gender, and Activism." Whitney is a student staff member at the MRRC, and has received numerous awards for her dedication to social justice, including the Vision Award. In her spare time, she volunteers with Helping Individuals Prostitutes Survive (HIPS), a D.C. based harm reduction and HIV prevention and outreach organization. Whitney has co-led a service-learning trip to New York City, focusing on HIV/AIDS, peer-based community building.

Alex Sims, Class of 2009

Alex, also a senior at George Mason, studies Anthropology and is fulfilling requirements for entrance into medical school. Her interests in Anthropology extend into the realm of structural violence, indigenous health, HIV/AIDS and race/ethnic relations. She has recently been a finalist for the Truman Scholarship, where she presented a policy proposal concerning needle exchange programs in Washington, D.C. With Whitney Gecker, Alex was a co-leader in the HIV/AIDS service trip to New York. Alex works in the MRRC, and is active with the Freshman Center as a Senior Peer Advisor, where she co-teaches a transition course for first year students, and also supervises other student-teachers. A fierce student, Alex engages both her peers and professors in classroom discussions.

John Robinson, MA in Sociology

With a BA in Sociology from Hampton University, John has come to George Mason to focus on cultural sociology, including constructions of identity, religion, and oppositional knowledges. John serves as a teaching assistant in the Sociology Department, a research assistant for the Diversity Research Group, and a graduate assistant in the MRRC. In addition, John has founded and currently serves as Vice-President for the Black Graduate Student Association. Recently, he has also done work as a Cultural Diversity Fellow at James Madison University.

About the University of KwaZulu-Natal, our home...

Taken from their web-site (http://www.ukzn.ac.za/)

The new University of KwaZulu-Natal unites two major educational institutions in KwaZulu-Natal – the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville. The University of KwaZulu-Natal aims to be a truly South African university that reflects the society in which it is situated – not only in terms of race, gender and class – but in terms of how it structures its values and priorities and how it responds to social needs. As an institution of higher learning, it is committed to academic excellence, innovation in research and critical engagement with society. With its vision to be the Premier University of African Scholarship, the University of KwaZulu-Natal draws inspiration from an African identity and takes seriously its responsibilities to the development of the African continent.

For the majority of our stay, we will be residing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban. Students here are on their Winter Break, but there are still students around campus taking classes and using their break to study for exams. During our time here, we will be engaging with student who are on campus, as well young people in the surrounding townships and rural areas. As we go through our journey, we will be sharing more as our experience continues.

If you ever have questions about words we use, things we post, or experiences we discuss, feel free to post a comment.