SAI Service Learning Day
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Time to Get The Other Foot Wet...
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| Our facilitator Dr. Steffany Baptiste |
The Color of Fear...
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| Original documentary poster |
This was one of the best documentaries I have seen as of late. Although it was actually released in 1994, which coincidentally was the same year that apartheid ended, it still rings very true to race relations of today. As with the book by Jensen, I had a very strong, at times disgusted reaction to the film. One thing that stuck out to me was the reason in which the film was made in the first place. The filmmaker, Lee Mun Wah, mentioned during the film and at the closing that his mother was murdered by and African-American man and rather than hate and fear black people, he wanted to leave a legacy of working toward racial harmony for his son and future generations. A CNN news article from 1995 mentions that, "His grass roots approach to ending racism, one person at a time, has never been tried before. Its goal is to change people's core beliefs first, hoping positive actions will follow." I can say that watching this movie has made me much more aware of the work that still needs to be done. Once the film was over, my trip members and I spoke about racial stratification and how it is used within this country, but also how differs in South Africa.
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| Racial Statification from desirable to less desirable is: 1) White 2) Indian "Asian" 3) Mixed race peoples "Coloured" 4) Black |
Skype Time...
After the movie and discussion, we moved into lunch and then into a Skype Chat with colleagues from the University of Pretoria. Most of what was talked about were formal introductions as well as mention of the logistics of the trip. A notable moment that came out of this conversation was that we will actually be in South Africa for Mandela Day on July 18th. Mandela day is a celebration of Nelson Mandela's birthday world wide as declared by the United Nations on November 10, 2009. (Nelson Mandela is actually the only person in the world whose birthday has been declared to be celebrated internationally.) The purpose of Mandela day is "...to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. Individuals and organisations are free to participate in Mandela Day as they wish. We do however urge everyone to adhere to the ethical framework of 'service to one’s fellow human'." (Mandela Day Website) |
| My fellow SAI Participants |
Blogging Training...
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| Our facilitator Mr. Brent Horbatt |
While sitting in our "Blogging Training" I was simultaneously working on this blog post...ahh, the power of technology. During this training, many of my fellow SAI participants started their own blogs to chronicle their own trip. It was a lot of fun seeing the beginnings of what I have found to be a very rewarding activity thus far. Additionally, it was also a moment to start to see every one's different personalities start to come out through the designs they chose for their pages (as we have not had too many opportunities to socialize amongst each other). Now that my fellow SAI participants also have blogs, I have put their RSS feed in the first column on the right on the main page of my own blog so that you can see the difference experience through the participants.
Service Learning: Elijah's Promise...
Finally, at 5:15pm we were split into two groups in which we took turns
in helping at a local soup kitchen named Elijah's Promise. "Elijah’s
Promise was established in 1989 when three local churches (St. John’s
Episcopal, Emanuel Lutheran, and Christ Episcopal of New Brunswick) joined
together to start a small soup kitchen. Although local congregations have
continued to fill much of our volunteer base over the years, we receive great
amounts of support and service from local student groups, community health
organizations, local businesses and many others." (E.P Website)  |
| The Beautiful Dining Space at Elijah's Promise |
I have been exposed to doing different service based volunteering in my lifetime, such as Habitat for Humanity, Appalachia Service Project (ASP), and food and clothing drives. However, there is something very personal and even more rewarding about working in a soup kitchen and serving people a hot meal. While I was there I came to find out that since it was the beginning of the month, there were not as many people in attendance because it was the beginning to the month ie "payday". But, toward the end of the month I was told that the place can be busting at the seams with people trying to sit down to have a meal. It can range from people who are homeless, to senior citizens who's social security checks ran out an even families. It was even mentioned that during the winter, especially when the weather is about 15-20 degrees that there is much difficulty even getting in because the place is so packed. While there (I like to think because I was there) they served a vegetarian meal. Upon inquiry, it was mentioned that most of the meals varied depending on what was available, however they aimed to have as many fruits and vegetables as possible. Despite this effort, most of the time there were many meals that were carbohydrate rich because it was more filling and less expensive (ie what people donate).
This whole experience really hit home because I have aunts as well as my own mother who are retired and receive as social security check. From them, I have heard, many times, about how social security just isn't enough and that it goes very quickly. The very connection that this type of thing could happen to my family or even my mother, that I was serving other peoples parents and loved ones because they just didn't have enough truly penetrated my own comprehension of the issue of hunger in a profound way.
Once in this mind frame, I recalled reminded an excellent documentary I saw a few months ago that addressed the issue of hunger in America called Dive!
This movie talks about how much food is wasted in America and the
corporatism of food being a major component in many people continuing to go
hungry. The film also brings up the issue of the Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act and how more local stores can donate food rather
than throw it away in a locked dumpster to be thrown in a landfill.
Additionally the film talks about what we as consumers can do to maintain
a mindful nature in regards to food that we throw away.
"In 2010, 17.2 million households, 14.5 percent of households (approximately one in seven), were food insecure, the highest number ever recorded in the United States. Additionally, in the same year, children were food insecure at times during the year in 9.8 percent of households with children (3.9 million households.)" (Hunger in America) In South Africa, "Over 3 million children (18%) lived in households where child
hunger was reported in 2010....Hunger, like income poverty and household
unemployment, is most likely to be found among African children. In 2010,
some 2.9 million African children lived in households that reported child hunger.
This equates to nearly 20% of the total African child population, while
relatively few Coloured (13%), Asian (5%) and White (0%) children lived in
households where child hunger was reported." (Statistics on Children in South Africa)
Compared, both countries have an alarming issue of food insecurity. Furthermore if the type of food that is given is not healthy and vitamin rich (as it relies heavily on donations made by corporations, middle class families, and religious organizations), than that would mean that there is and will be a health crisis within both countries among the poor and elderly, among the SES "outliers". This is not an issue that has gone away nor is it something that can continue to be ignored, in fact it is getting worse. I am thankful to SAI for giving me this opportunity to truly see first hand how serious it really is. 
Ukuvalelisa!
take leave from, say goodbye
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