A Long Relationship

After a long travel day from Cape Town to the eastern cape, the delegates arrived in Malungeni into the open arms of old friends and community leaders. Time was shared expressing gratitude for the long relationship between AIAIA and the village of Malungeni.

We spent the following morning in Mthatha visiting the Itipini community, an area where around 300 people live in overcrowded shacks. Some of these families were forcibly moved here in 2012 after the government bulldozed their previous settlement located on a dumping site. Other residents moved in from surrounding areas seeking employment and better opportunities from more rural villages. People living in Itipini experience very high rates of unemployment, drug and alcohol use, and gender based violence.

Due to expected rain, the quarterly food distribution was postponed, to the disappointment of residents who experience food scarcity on a daily basis. They graciously welcomed us empty handed to walk around their community and into their homes. 

Delegates learned about the life and impact of Nelson Mandela, from his place of birth and childhood in nearby Mvezo and Mthatha, his life long fight to dismantle apartheid, to his work toward racial justice through his Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Many throughout South Africa, despite some critics, are deeply grateful for his tireless activism, democratic leadership, and significant impacts that changed their lives. 

A presentation was given in the afternoon on the success of the Malungeni garden project. Delegates and food leaders explored the lush greenery, enormous cabbages, and shared in the excitement of seeing their hard work come to fruition. One of our delegates is on our AIAIA Food Committee and is eager to share more about the unfolding of this venture in a future post.