All arrived safely in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening after nearly 24 hours of travel. Most of the group slept well and were surprisingly bright eyed for breakfast this morning at our hotel in the Melrose Arch district.
We have a group of twelve dynamically strong women, coming from all walks of life and all regions of the U.S. including Montana, New York, Washington, California and Arizona. We have journeyed halfway across the world to see how clean water impacts communities, how World Vision's initiatives change the lives of women and girls, and to be touched by the many beautiful personalities of the people of Zambia and South Africa. Though there are various commonalities between individuals within our group, one thing is most certainly a uniting thread: a compassion for others and a desire to help wherever possible. We have all arrived here in Africa, with open hearts and ready hands.
At 10AM we made our way towards Soweto to the Apartheid Museum, driven by Sam, Kathryn's long-time friend and trusted driver. We spent a little over 2 hours observing photos, videos, a replica of Mandela's prison cell, and interactive displays to gain a remote sense of what it was like to live in South Africa under apartheid. Photos of the oppression that arose during the legal segregation between races lined an entire wall. Signs designating seating exclusively for Europeans hung from the ceiling. Apartheid ended in 1994, spearheaded by a man with a vision and his enduring fight for equality.
Though Nelson Mandela died in 2013, it is apparent that his powerful legacy continues through his words, his exemplary leadership and policy reform and an overwhelming message of reconciliation, responsibility and revolution. It is apparent that these contributions will echo throughout South Africa and the world indefinitely.
Following the incredible experience at the museum, we enjoyed a fantastic lunch at Pigalle near our hotel. We were blessed to dine with Rudo Kwaramba and Linda Kabwila-Kalenga, two of Africa's brilliant female leaders, and both amazing members of the World Vision team. Rudo spoke with us about her role as World Vision's Vice President of Southern Africa, overseeing their programs in countries within the southern regions of the continent. Her incredible strength and intelligence are balanced with sincerity and humility as she shared with us the impact that World Vision's initiatives are currently having on women and girls. Rudo explained the roles that girl children have been forced into as water-fetcher and how many of them are married off before the age of 16. She explained how World Vision is effectively countering these issues through programs such as WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) and community-based initiatives to promote gender equality.
Linda, equally genuine and powerful, shared her role as the Director of Grants Acquisitions, and how pharmaceutical gifts in kind helped in dramatically decreasing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa, through donating enough new drugs to help millions of cases.
It was clear through meeting with these two incredible women and hearing about their contributions to Southern Africa, that World Vision's team is in-tune and in action, in ways that are helping to heal entire communities, that truly have a big impact where it matters most.
On a lighthearted note, at the end of the day, Kathryn and Debbie took our group to Amatuli, a three-story art shop and cafe with beautiful African art, furniture and finds. Textiles, masks, jewelry, beautiful photographic prints-- most of these items were made by local African artists and we were so glad to support them! Afterward, we rested in the small outdoor cafe enjoying the incredible weather and a cool beverage.
To end our adventure in Johannesburg, we went to dinner at Moyo, an authentic African restaurant with live music. Discussions arose about the beauty of Africa, gratitude to experience such a uniquely meaningful gift and excitement for what tomorrow will hold.
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