Thursday, May 15, 2008

The end of SIT.

I am sorry it has been so long since my last post but i have been very busy with limited Internet access. I will try to fill you in with the short time i have.
First of all, my experience working with the youth group, the KwaZulu Natal Youth Empowerment Project, was amazing. I met amazing kids who accepted me into their community and became my friends. After my time with them, i invited all of them to the beach for a braii. There, we cooked and hung out all day and i was able to introduce them to my friends and my SIT coordinator Langa. When it got dark, and they were about to leave, some kids challenged us to a soccer game. So in the dark, we striped off our shoes and played an exciting and fun game of soccer.
While the experience working with KZN YEP was great personally, i also felt the research helped me grow academically. I traced the origins and importance of youth groups in South Africa under Apartheid and examined the current role of youth organizations. During the 1980s, youth groups used the slogan "liberation first, education later" and i began to break down the importance and impact of that statement on current youth and youth activists. Its long, but if you would like to read it shoot me an email.
What was even better than writing the paper was presenting it to my class. It looks that through my research, SIT is going to start a partnership with KZN YEP, which will benefit KZN YEP and provide SIT a way to becoming more involved in the community.

So, the paper is done as is SIT. I signed off from the program yesterday, and hopped on a bus to Maputo, Mozambique. I don't know too much about this place so far, but we live on Mao Tse Tung Ave and walk past different streets like Allende and Marks aves. This morning, we went to a cafe and drank espressos and struggled with Portuguese. Today, we plan to go to a revolutionary museum, and then hear live music tonight. Tomorrow0w, we are headed for Tofo bay where the pristine beaches are supposedly amazing. It feels good to be on vacation, and i am excited to return home as well.
Life is good, and i think my new Mozambique cell phone is 00258 866 8894. Talk to you all later. Obrigado.

Alex, i think i return at 7 in the morning on the 21st, and congrats my fewethu.