Unlocking Potential - Imizamo Yethu And National Development Agency

The 12 meter long container donated by the NDA to the Imizamo Yethu Elders Group in Mdantsane NU 12

The Slogan of NDA - the National Development Agency is "Unlocking Potential". 

On the first of February 2013 the NDA showed us, that they are in fact serious about their mission statement.

The National Development Agency (NDA) has partnered with the Imizamo Yethu for Elder Persons Group in Mdantsane to implement a capacity building program for the elderly by facilitating a working place in Mdantsane in NU12 for the crafters. 

A fully furnished 12-metre container, funded by the NDA, that houses an administrative office and work stations for 30 elderly persons, mostly women, has been handed over to the beneficiaries, who were previously based in a classroom at a school next to Imizamo Yethu ECD center.

Beaded Shoes - Products of the Imizamo Yethu Group for Elders in Mdantsane

The center is the first of its kind in Mdantsane, where the elderly can gather and make handcrafted products ,that they can offer for sale to generate additional income.The handover of the container to the ladies of Imizamo Yethu showed to the public the importance of centers such as this one. 

 

The Ladies of Imizamo Yethu Are Listening To The Speach Of The CEO of The National Development Agency

The handover ceremony took place in a white tent in NU 12, that was stylishly decorated on the inside The tables were adorned with flowers, fruits and refreshing cool drinks.

A Woman Of Powerful Words Delivering Her Speech

The ceremony was attended by high ranking officials of the Eastern Cape Government like the MEC of Social Development, Pemmy Majodina, Mayor of Buffalo City, Cllr Zukiswa Ncitha and the CEO of the NDA, Dr. Vuyelwa Nhlapo.

Upholding Traditional Values

One Of the Beneficiaries Of Imizamo Yethu Thanks the NDA Representative For The Support They Are Receiving In Form Of A 12 Meter Long Container

Mbulelo Mdayo of the NDA had his turn in expressing his opinion

Mbulelo Madyo

We had the pleasure of meeting Mbulelo Madyo before at another event sponsored by the NDA on Nelson Mandel Day last year at the Ethembeni Old Age Home in NU 1 and we came to know him as a person who is very serious about the development of the Mdantsane communities.

The honorable guests were listening attentively

Powerful words about old age and the situation of elders in South Africa were spoken by more than one speaker

When I was told I was coming to handover a new office/work space to an elderly center, I thought to myself: "I wonder who is defined as an older or elder person". I could not find an universal definition due to a number of factors such as cultures, location, age etc. However, what I found in the form of a quote from Jules Renard made complete sense to me. Jules Renard said: "It is not how old you are, but rather, how you are old".
(From the speech of the CEO of the National Development Agency delivered at the launch of the container for the Imizamo Yethu Group For Elders on the 1st of February 2013)

The situation of the elderly people in this country is marked by hardship and often dire poverty

Old people in this country do often face a grim and non-deserved fate. They are exploited by loan sharks, have sometimes to lend money to buy even food. 

Their government grants, destined to help them ease the burden of their life, are abused by family members and they do not get the care they need at the end of a long life. Additionally they are victims of gender based violence, like rape in the last years of their life. 

The look of a long life

Old Age in South Africa - can mean hardship in some cases

After all the speeches had been delivered the national South African Anthem was sung to close of the function.

Hopefully A Look Into A Brighter Future

 a reason to celebrate

The Team of Mdantsane FM

This lot, many of you living in Mdantsane, might know already very well and listen to everyday. The core of Mdantsane's most popular and successful community Radio "Mdantsane FM" was invited too.

The Beneficiaries of Imizamo Yethu, The CEO of the National Development Agency and the MEC For Social Development at the launch of the container in NU 12, Mdantsane

At the end the eagerly awaited handover and a guided tour of the container took place.

Handing over the keys of the new workstation to the "elders"

Traditional Exquiste Xhosa Clothing manufactured by the Imizamo Yethu group was shown to the dignitairies

Trying on was a must

and who can deny the beauty of it

Another Shade Of Normal - Celebrating Diversity In Mdantsane

Another Very Beautiful Shade Of Normal - Mdantsane NU 12

On the 1st of February the Mdantsane Way Magazine had the pleasure to attend the ceremony of the handover of a 12 meter container funded by the National Development Agency NDA for the Imizamo Yethu For Elders Group in Mdantsane in NU 12 ( we are working on the article at present).

On this occasion we could witness one more time how much the township Mdantsane is an expression of the young democracy and its values, that has been established in South Africa in 1994.

During the ceremony the guests were surprised with an amazing performance of four beautiful South African children. The performance had been organized by the beneficiaries of the container.

Celebrating Diversity And Different Kinds Of Beauty in Mdantsane

Our young democracy, although a rule of majority has firmly embedded in its constitution the protection of the minorities in the society. For a country, that has no century long history of developing democratic values but has instead been dominated by a regime of suppression this process can be a challenge.

We have published these wonderful pictures for you today because they truly demonstrate how much South Africa has advanced and is constantly making progress on the path of democracy and celebration of diversity.

Mdantsane's Beautiful Children Performing At The Handover Ceremony Of The Imizamo Yethu Container For Elder Persons In Mdantsane In NU 12

The topic of albinism is one that lies close to our heart and it is one for which we would like to create awareness in the community.

In the South African black population, about 1 in 3900 people have oculocutaneous albinism while in the white population it is less common (1 in 15 000 people). There are about 10 000 affected individuals in South Africa.

There is still a certain amount of stigmatization of people with albinism in the community. For some people affected by albinism mean "bad luck".

The more we were happy to see on that day that prejudice is challenged by many now on a daily basis.  

Delighting The Public With Their Performance in NU 12 in Mdantsane

Albinism has been defined as an inherited absence of pigment (hypomelanosis) that is limited to the eye (ocular albinism), or involves the eye and skin (oculocutaneous albinism) and in which nystagmus (fast, rhythmical movement of the eye), decreased visual acuity and photophobia (fear of light) are present.

Oculocutaneous albinism is more common than ocular albinism and is inherited as an autosomal recessive disorder. In addition to poor vision, people with oculocutaneous albinism have hypopigmented skin which sunburns very easily and is highly susceptible to skin cancer. Although young children with albinism may be slower to crawl and walk due to visual problems, it is important to remember that their intelligence is within the normal range.

Creating awareness and educating the public about albinism in Mdantsane

Both public education about the condition and counseling for affected individuals and their families are required. 

A small parent support group in Johannesburg has been functioning under the auspices of SAIDA with more than 30 members all over the country. 

The objectives of this group are to educate the public about albinism, to provide support for affected families, and to support research into the condition. A second large group ( with more than 200 members) has also been established in Soweto.

We are re-publishing an article, that has caught our attention written by Johannesburg based David Smith for the Guardian on 2 of November 2012. This article profiles the fashion top model Thanda Hopa who has the condition of albinism.

South African model with albinism challenges prejudices

Thando Hopa is wowing the fashion world, but suffered prejudice as a child for condition others have been killed for having

• David Smith Johannesburg
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 2 November 2012 18.04 GMT

As a child with albinism, Thando Hopa was called names by her peers and regarded with superstition by the elderly. "Some saw me as good luck," she says, "and some saw me as bad luck."

Recently all eyes were on Hopa again. This time she was striding confidently down the catwalk and earning newspaper accolades as South Africa's "the new face of fashion" and "fashion's new colour".

The 23 year old is among a growing number of models with albinism challenging prejudice on a continent where the inherited condition – lack of pigment that affects the eyes, hair and skin – can lead to discrimination and even death.

Hopa grew up south of Johannesburg with constant reminders to wear hats and sunscreen to protect her sensitive skin. She credits a strong and protective family for keeping her self-esteem intact. A full-time legal prosecutor, she had no thoughts of modelling until a chance meeting with fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee at a shopping mall.

"After two minutes he said, 'Hi miss, are you interested in modelling?' I was open to it. SA fashion week was an overwhelming experience, a different world altogether with so much creativity."

One in 4,000 people in South Africa has albinism. They suffer prejudic from employers and lack of recognition by government, say activists. Last year the kidnapping of a 14-year-old boy with albinism was blamed on traditional beliefs.

There are hopes that positive portrayals of albinism can make a difference. "I really hope so," Hopa said. "I received some very positive feedback from young girls with albinism. If you don't see positive examples, you wallow in self-pity. I just hope it turns into another shade of normal."

Coetzee said he was bowled over when he first ran into Hopa. "It was amazing, like somebody was shining a light at the side of my head," he said. "She was beautiful, with the perfect body and the perfect bone structure. She was glowing like an angel.

"I've always wanted to do a show with someone with albinism and never found the right girl. When I saw her everything I was working on came together. Her skin is as white as milk, stripped of colour. There are endless possibilities."

Coetzee added: "She was excited that she can be role model for girls with albinism. It's something to embrace rather than something to hide."

Hopa follows Refilwe Modiselle, a model with albinism from Soweto who has been modelling since age 13 and now the face of South African fashion chain Legit. "I'm a black girl who lives in the skin of a white person and that alone should embody what a human being as a whole should represent," she told the BBC recently.

But in east Africa particularly, people with albinism are believed by some to have mystical and healing power, putting them at risk of abduction and mutilation. Body parts are used in witchcraft or buried under businesses to bring wealth.

Under the Same Sun, an advocacy and education group, estimated that 71 people with albinism were killed in Tanzania between 2006 and 2012, while 31 survived machete attacks. In June this year the body of a man was discovered with several of his body parts missing.

Richard Mgamba, a Tanzanian journalist who has investigated the trade in body parts, said the example of Hopa shows "there are two different worlds for people with albinism: one where they are being hunted and killed, the other where they are being given opportunities to live like everyone else".

He added: "In my country they are not given these opportunities. They are feared and treated as second class citizens. In South Africa we see a different story – a model with albinism – and for me that's very encouraging."

Kumnandi Ekhaya - It Is Nice At Home

Three elders warming up in the midday sun in NU 5 on a cold winter day.

People Are People Through Other People

The Sizamile Soup Kitchen In NU 5

Between 20  to 40 people of all ages come to the Soup Kitchen in NU 5 to get a hot meal on Wednesdays. 

The Sizamile Women's Group was established in 2005 by 19 women. The soup kitchen was launched in the same year.

A letter was handed over to us when we visited them so that we could read their story.
We want to use their own unchanged words to re-tell it to you:

" We started this project ; a certain old man came to us and asked for food. He was so destitute although he receives grant. The grant is insufficient to fulfill his needs. We met as women to solve the problem, we established a soup kitchen in order to meet with this problem. We collected some cash and bought rice, mince-meat and vegetables.

Many of the destitute came to have some meals. They were rationed from Monday to Friday. Four of the women withdrew they could not afford to give money to buy the food items. Only the eleven of us who is still on the project.

We decided to cook for them once a week. We chose to feed them on Wednesdays. The number of them has risen to 40. Six of them are bed-ridden. We visit and feed them at their homes. We are feeding the elderly people."

The government of South Africa as a young democracy has established an extensive social grant system over the years to support and help the people that have been disadvantaged under the Apartheid system and as an answer to the needs of those who are living below the minimum income level or who are in the true sense of the word destitute. 

There are a variety of social grants available for the elders, aids orphans, HIV positive people, disabled people and many more.

The necessary distribution of these grants initially instituted because of the high level of unemployment has now led to another social phenomena. The grants are often not used for their original destined purpose but they help to feed complete families. A social grant or a pension of an elderly person might help contribute to bring the grandchildren through school or pay electricity and water. A cycle that is incredibly hard to break.

This soup kitchen was set up in the spirit of UBUNTU.

Ubuntu is an African Word.

In the Xhosa language Ubuntu means " People are People Through Other People".

Reference to the word Ubuntu is made on all levels of government in South Africa and in all social circles.

We dare to say Ubuntu is most alive and strong with the people who are still very close to earth. 

With the working class.

 " The Salt Of The Earth ".

We call them the Heroes of Daily Life. Our book is about them.

These courageous women have meanwhile created an NGO and have applied for funds with the Department of Social Development. But they are still funding their activities with their own funds.

The younger ones who can, take care of the others who can not care for themselves anymore.

The Spirit of Ubuntu is alive in every NU in Mdantsane.

To the  two ladies who are the initiators of this group Mrs H. Mandleleni and Miss. T Bokoloshe

  WE SALUTE YOU !

Release It Into Song

There he was, sitting alone on a bench in the back of a church whose walls were painted in a bright orange.

The only man who was watching about 20 elderly women who where celebrating a late Mother's Day in June.

Coming closer I could see his face. 

I have always believed in coming closer.

I have always believed that the simple fact that you decide to come closer enriches your life.

When humans get older their faces become like paintings conveying a little bit of the spirit that has lived and is still living in this body for a whole life. Even if we ourselves don't like our changed physical appearance when looking in the mirror, as an artist I think it is beautiful. Over time our faces become alive.

I can not tell you how many times, while working on this book, I would have loved to pause and stay a little longer and hear someone's story right through to the end. 

Even when just catching a glimpse of someone on the street I often feel like saying to that person: I would like to listen to your story from the beginning right to the end - if you would like to talk. 

I can not count how many times I had that wish in my life. Often you can pause and listen but many times you have to move on. 

I really do not know who he is and I had not the time to get to know him.
But I have this beautiful photo of his face which is like a painting of life itself