African Enterprise
Trip Start
Mar 03, 2007
1
8
17
Trip End
Apr 09, 2007
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Sunday, March 18, 2007
I arrive the afternoon of the 14th and spend it with Kristi and the kids. Thursday, which was a real eye opening day for me, we spent a most of it at bongikosi school, the pre-k school of 35 kids that is in the edendale township. It is an AE sponsored school so the kids get a good christian education there but the building has been condemned, many of these kids are orphans, some have had HIV since birth, and there is a bunch of kids their age running around the neighborhood not attending school for any number of reasons but mostly because they cant afford it. It costs somewhere in the neighborhood of US$200 a year to educate kids in these townships and they cant afford it. The kids at bongikosi pay i think 30 South African Rand a month, less than $5.
Worst of all, the muslims have built a brand new school directly across the street, very nice building, they give the kids uniforms, and its k-high school. They pay 10 rand a month, it is all funded thru Saudi oil money. The first few years they get a regular education but as they progress they begin indoctrinate Islam. As the kids get a little older they begin teaching them to speak arabic and the coriculum is even in Arabic. Each year they pick a few of the beast and brightest and ship them off to Saudi Arabia for college(paid for) and then send them back to South Africa and well educated, indoctrinated, muslim disciples. Much of what Paul has been doing is raising money for the rebuilding of this school and trying to find scholarships for these kids and he has been very successful but more is always needed especially in a place like this.
This was the most impactful part of my stay with the Passaros, to see how they intentionally are capitolizing off of the poor shape of the christian school across the street. The rest of the time was spent at the AE center meeting people and such.
Duc, i have a new project for us when i get back!!!!!!
Comments
Difficult to know
Dear Flyphishn,
I have been reading you blog with interest as I am a resident of KZN, and I am glad that you have enjoyed your tour in South Africa.
I would however like to comment that it is sometimes difficult to grasp in a short time that opportunities come to people in many guises. I think that it is a little short-sighted to view these places as simply opportunities to educate and manipulate children into a certain religion - for example, the same could be said for any religious organisation who is helping to provide education around the world, including Christians.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but perhaps it is worth noting that your comments may be taken as rather strong;
'Worst of all, the muslims have built a brand new school directly across the street'
I am not associated with and do not know the organisations to which you refer, but perhaps it would be worth spending more time getting to know each perspective before posting such specifically prejudice words. I am sure that there are benefits for the children who learn to read and write in either of these organisations.
We are trying to make South Africa a positive place, free of prejudice, so I hope you understand why your personal account may be taken as a less than positive representation of this countries growth.
I hope that you enjoy the rest of your time in South Africa.
Ngiyabonga (Go well)
Off-road-Clara