Getting to Work in South Africa with Bridges to Understanding
Catherine Parker/Getty Images
It’s certainly been a whirlwind tour thus far at the informal Wallacedene settlement in Cape Town, South Africa.
The settlement is located near the heart of the picturesque wine country, but the shanty village of Wallacedene is far from the glowing beauty of its close neighbors. When you enter the community of Wallacedene, the poverty is immediately apparant. Stray, malnourished dogs wander the streets in search of food while children play amongst the rubbish that is littered throughout the streets.
Catherine Parker/Getty Images
It’s these conditions that led to the topic of our digital story, “Environmental Hazards,” which highlights the impact pollution is having on the health of the children in the Wallacedene settlement.
Catherine Parker/Getty Images
Mothusi Mokhalimetso, one of the brightest learners at the school, was a victim of the squalid way of life in his community, contracting and almost dying from tuberculosis (TB). TB is a common and often deadly infectious disease that usually attacks the lungs. Typical symptoms include chronic coughing with blood tinged mucas, fever, night sweats and weight loss. The disease is spread through the air, and due to the close living proximity of residents in these villages, sick residents are often treated as outcasts.
One of the lucky few to survive, Mothusi is now sharing his story as part of the Bridges to Understanding workshop experience.
Catherine Parker/Getty Images – Mothusi Mokhalimetso is ready to share his story.
Unfortunately, TB is not the only killer in the Wallacedene settlement, around 60% of people in the settlement have AIDS, some of which even contracting it from birth.
Luthando Home Care Center takes in HIV infected and affected orphans and toddlers that are vulnerable to this disease. They provide them with food, shelter and access to social grants, particularly for those orphans who have no family to care for them.
Here I am with several of the orphans…
The children are incredibly affectionate, they want to cuddle you, be held close, climb all over you and play with your camera equipment. They are so little and cute, but in the back of your mind, you know this is the case because many have grown up malnourished and their growth has been stunted.
In spite of their struggles, in spite of the disease, dirty water and lack of sewage systems and sanitation, the people in Wallacedene remain upbeat. Their song and culture is what seems to keep them going, and they take each day as it comes.
Catherine Parker/Getty Images
Tags: AIDS/HIV, Bridges to Understanding, Getty Images, imagery, Pictures, South Africa
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