University Pretoria Art project
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So what was your experience?
Discussion started by Paul Roux , on 19 October 10:38 AM
I dono about the rest of you, but this was one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences of my life, and I cant even begin to explain all the things that I learned during this experience. I miss the little town, backpackers and the kids that waited for us every morning even before we arrived. I know Miss Potts is looking into making this a reaccuring thing, and I personally would go back each year of my life if that was possible. So, what did you guys/girls experience? and who is joining me next year if all goes according to plan? Replies
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paul. i personaly think everybody that went with this year will definitly go back next year. those children just get to your heart. it really brakes my heart to think that the children may have waited on the monday when we where back in pta for us to come. they are so sweet and this trip was really amazing. it shows you how fortunate we are to have waht we have.
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 09:32
I was traumatised by my experience in Nieu-Bethesda but also partly enlightened.I was traumatised by the poor conditions that the children were growing up in and their violent behaviour towards one another, but I was enlightened by their efforts to learn and their faces when you praised a picture that they drew and the most touching was the severe cold conditions they came to school in, while we were dressed in layers and gloves, some of the children came in t-shirts and also came with holes in their clothes but they came because they wanted to learn, it makes me ashamed when I think of the classes I skip because of the cold :/
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 08:30
Hi guys, I was truly traumatized by our experience in Nieu Bethesda. The poverty and harsh circumstances they live in was shocking and to this day I still feel very sorry for them. I can't help but feel that we did not make much of a difference and that the kids are hungry and missing us today and every day since we have been gone. It's like we just teased them with better circumstances and fun and then we abandoned them again. I can't seem to distance myself or "forget" what they go through every day. We all saw how tainted their childhood's were in their eyes, actions and words. Sometimes I wonder if our efforts are hopeless? It is so overwhelming to see the whole community suffer and that these bad experiences are reinforced every single day. I've been told that I "need to learn to distance myself", I am a compassionate person, how must I set that aside? I don't see why I should pretend that what's going on is okay? It's not okay, it's shocking and a disgraceful way of raising the youth. The children are innocent victims and I don't think that I will ever be okay with what I saw. I wish we could have done more...
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 11:27
My experience was truly eye opening. It was a harsh reality shock to see the conditions these kids were surviving in every day, and how to them it had become the absolute norm. For them it was simply just how life was. Nothing strange. I think we truly had a great positive impact not only on the kids, but also on the community, and if we could go back and work with the kids again next year, it would be amazing to see if the kids had progressed at all!
Wednesday, 19 October 2011 11:11
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“If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.” Nelson Mandela |
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Teams University Pretoria Art project Discussions So what was your experience?
Teams University Pretoria Art project Discussions So what was your experience?