Kristin: so much to do, so little time

Kristin

I can't believe we've been here five weeks already! It's gone by so fast it scares me! We still have a lot ahead of us, both academic and recreational adventures. This past weekend we went paragliding which was awesome. I was pretty nervous but once we were up in the air it was quite serene.  There wasn't too much of an adrenaline rush, but after going through with that, I now want to go skydiving and possibly bungee jumping! This upcoming weekend we are going to a human rights convention and the one following that, some of us will be participating in a home stay in one of the nearby townships. We have lots planned and a lot to still plan.

Amanda

One of the more recent things that some of us have begun is our activist project.  A large handful of us from the program have decided to work with a young and ambitious woman who has been responsible for running a book club the past few years. Her name is Amanda and she is also from one of the townships named Khayelitsha.

Abongile (Bongi) and Casey

 Her and a couple others (Bongi and Casey) are in the process of starting an NGO which will  serve to provide financial support and resources for the different sections of the hopeful organization. Along with Amanda's book club is a soccer program and a life skills course for both.  The life skills course in particular is what the handful of us would be helping out with. Along with that, we also buddied up with the young members of Amanda's book club; either one or two of us for each member of the club. Since most members are young women between the ages of about 13 and 18, we figured it would be beneficial for them and even us, to really get to know them and show that we are interested in their lives and they are important. Amanda was telling us that many of them lack confidence and, as adolescents, are trying to find themselves.  So, we will be doing activities and other workshops to help boost their confidence and ease them into developing skills that are essential for going out into the work force and even just going to interviews, for example. This past Friday we met in Khayelitsha and figured out who we would be paired or grouped with. Brandi (who is incredibly outgoing, friendly, and kind) and I were matched up with a young woman named Eza who turns out to be the shyest one of the group. Brandi and I think we will be a good group for her and we will be meeting this Thursday to hang out for the first time since we've met.

The life skills course of this program sounds brilliant to me so we will see how it turns out. I think schools back in the US should really have something similar, along with some other classes that teach more about social issues and global, current events, but I'm digressing. So, when I think back to being in high school, I remember how only the same couple of people would raise their hands or talk in class willingly. These people might have been ahead of the game, comfortable with themselves and confident enough to either ask a question others might say is stupid or propose an answer that could be wrong. Unfortunately, not everyone is that confident especially as a young adult or adolescent. I think because of the lack of confidence at this age, students are much more likely to fall into bad habits and give into peer pressure. Everyone wants to fit in somewhere and be liked by the people around them. During some of the most crucial times of growing as a person, physically, sexually, psychologically, maybe even spiritually, there is almost no focus on how to get an adolescent to develop a healthy confidence so they can be themselves and be a positive member in society. It is crazy to me to think back to how separated school was from personal, emotional life. We are all people, developing and changing constantly, so I don't understand why we separate ourselves from one another so much. 

One thing that this program stresses is that we are co-educators; we teach each other and help each other to understand different concepts and our teacher is no exception. I think it would be incredibly beneficial to society if schools required their students to take a life skills course that is based around improving self confidence and awareness of oneself. And after living with 17 people in one house, you also learn how important it is to develop good communication skills - being open and honest, speaking up when you have an issue with someone but always assuming good intent from them, and really listening to other people when they have an issue with you. I think that should also be taught in schools.

I could go on and on about the things I think public schools should be required to teach, but the above was closely related to what we will be doing with the young adults participating in the NGO. But I have to get going and finish some of my other homework!