TBI Vendor Party

Dear All

Am back on-line after a brief pause. Living in Cape Town is very different to Knysna. Well, it would be wouldn't it as after all this is the 'mother' city, not a small, attractive town on the Garden Route.

On Friday last we interns helped out at the Vendor's Christmas party in Khayelitsha. It was held in a community hall on Look Out Hill and although the local radio station had predicted showers it was actually warm and sunny, if a little windy. Do, the Senior Social Development Manager, told us to expect around 100 children and although there weren't quite that many there was a fair crowd. And of course the vendors and their close family were there too.

First there were a few short speeches and then a personal account from a vendor. After this TBI had organised a drumming work shop facilitated by 'Teamspirit'. There were 60 drums set in a circle and after a little bit of encouragement (from me and others from TBI) we had a child or adult at each one. The workshop was fantastic. It was amazing how quickly everyone got into the rhythm. There was no talking or formal 'lesson'- the drum leaders showed by example and everyone just got on with it.

After that some of the children danced to the latest pop songs. Their sense of rhythm is something else. The hips just keep going and their suppleness is impressive. Then lunch. Chicken and rice with beetroot and coleslaw with lots of sweet mango juice to wash it down.

Outside was an inflatable Bouncy castle and the younger children jumped and threw themselves about until I was exhausted just looking at them. Two of TBI staff had brought face paints so in no time we has a colourful array of butterfly-faced kids zigzagging amoungst the adults.

A little later the children were handed Christmas gifts while the adults received large blankets in plastic holders and bags of toiletries.

On the way back to the office it was hard to take in the scale of the settlement. We seemed to drive along the freeway for many kilometres with the closely packed huts of the township keeping perfect pace with us. I looked it up on the web and according to one source there are between 500,000 and 1m people living there. A pretty big margin don't you think and, as it is growing all the time, there are no accurate figures on population levels.

So, while on the one hand the day was full of fun, enjoyment and hope there was also the realisation that there is just so much to do.

Over and out for now.
Claire