a new genteration

Yet again, I am crossing some ethical boundary, but I will do it anyway.

I have blogged about the top learners before, but essentially there are 50-some best of the best, learners from the hood.  They scored quality marks with subpar education to prepare themselves.  One of the Masinyusane programs that I have been involved with is to identify these learners, and help advocate for them to get through the system.

Anyway, there is this one chick who I saw quite often.  She is this bubbly thing.  Always late, kinda frustrating, but so vivacious.  She got into university, is excelling, and is living in the dorms.  A proper freshman experience!  Sunday at church, Jim got a call that she is pregnant, and going into labor, and could he please give her a ride to the hospital.  Holy surprise!

Baby Jim was born that night, to everybody’s surprise. Yes, you read that right.  She named the baby after the man who helped her get into university. LOLOLOLZ.  She and baby Jim were discharged on Monday morning.  She went back to the dorms, and baby went to a cousins home.  The reason I have decided to share this story is not because the baby is called Jim.  (though I am told that this is certainly not the first baby Jim roaming around the hood).  I think that is it such a compelling story for a few reasons. 

Fact: people have children very young, but there is an interesting look here at the makeup of family dynamics.  Homes are often compounds, filled with grannys, cousins, aunts, uncles and baby Jims .  My idea of a western nuclear family rarely applies.  And while it can be said that it is unfortunate that thousands of children are born to families that may not be ready, it is very neat how families often respond to this situation.

I also think that this learner deserves big ups as she is plowing through her exams!  She knows the value of her education, and to make the best life possible for baby Jim, she must persevere.  How bright is the future for baby Jim who has such a determined mother.  How bright is the future for all of these babies.  I really do think that the bend in the road is visible, and baby Jim is taking the curve!

a different kind of picture

If you haven't yet seen this, do yourself a favor.  Sit down for 20 minutes and see the incredible things that bennies and johnnies are telling. ETL is a group close to my heart, and this year they have compiled a very special story of the Karen refugees that needs to be heard.

I watched it twice.  You should too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieJJ_qK0xj0&list=UU0AuM3eB-Pjw2dH81tgSBpg

Motivate Me

I got to work at 6:45 this morning; I’ve been trying to get here early to actually be productive.  Winter is setting in here, so I have my heater on, and am bundled up in a scarf I just made for myself.  All that is on my mind is the sunrise-starbucks blend that is waiting for me at the office.  My commute travels through the big intersection in PE, Cape and William Moffett.  Usually I try to avoid it, but I heard on the radio that the popular radio station was there handing out cash to people listening to their station.  Well heck yes I will waste 5 minutes trying to get some free money.

The announcer came on the radio and said everybody in PE better be here, because Fresh is handing out cash.  I heard him knock on the window of some car idling at the light, and the unsuspecting target clearly had not got the memo that there was money being passed out at this corner.  Fresh, the announcer, said to the blue Toyota, turn on 5FM and ill through you R100.  Sweet!! Green light and blue Toyota rolls away.

I see the camera crew and this bald guy with cash walking up my lane.  This is getting pretty exciting!! I could be R100 richer just for taking the annoyingly busy intersection.  A homeless guy, who is visibly chilled, probably slept outside last night, and certainly isn’t looking forward to my sunrise-starbucks asks this well dressed, camera crew chased man for some help.  Nothing.  But wait, he is plenty glad to give me, the well-dressed warm girl in the little red Tupperware car some cash.  And blue Toyota wasn’t even listening to said radio station.  Is it because I am more likely to support their radio station in the future?  Maybe, but listening to radio is FREE. Is it because listeners want to hear about cash the blue Toyota could win, rather than the dirty, unwashed, probably drunk man on the corner. If so, that’s sick. 

Every day I go through intersections and there are desperate people; people who have belittled themselves to a point where they are forced to beg for their survival. Very rarely to I acknowledge them.  I pretend that I don’t see them staring at me because it’s easier to pretend that I’m a lowly volunteer, and I do enough.  Often I hear people say that they money they earn is just going to drugs anyway.  Maybe, but what’s a rand to me?  What’s a rand, or a piece of bread, or a blanket to the radio station very willing to hand blue Toyota and red Tupperware car R100.00.

Pause.

And just about every Saturday afternoon, I see a group of well dressed, mid-twenties, white girls shaking a tin (well, more than a tin) at the robots, raising money for a bachelorette party.  This Saturday made me laugh.  The sign read “Support Kelly’s last fling before the ring.”  Kelly, I presume, was the one covered in plastic penises showing everybody idling her mountain of a ring.  Kelly’s bridesmaids knock on my window wanting some change for Kelly to go get drunk.  Why is it ok for people to give Kelly money, but it’s not ok for people to give the nameless, faceless guy on the corner anything.  Why is Kelly more worthy? 

WHY ARE WE MOTIVATED TO SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY WITH?

That is my question of the week?  Why are humans social creatures, driven by the need to “affiliate” with things they care about?  And please don’t think that I’m some altruistic, philanthropic, Mother Theresa.  I didn’t turn and give any money to the faceless cold man.  My sunrise-starbucks was more important….  And while Kelly certainly didn’t get any of my money, I did look at her.  I did smile at her. I did acknowledge that she was a human being, with wants, and needs, and a favorite color.

Similarly, I have had some frustrations with some people surrounding me who seem to chronically let me down.  Partying seems to be a commitment that is easier to keep than other promises.  I seem to view a contract as binding.  Why is it that others view stimulation as more enticing than upholding a contract?  I see things in black and white:  I said I would help you complete your math assignment, I will.  I don’t not show up because last night got a bit wild.  Aghhh, maybe I’m blinded, or maybe I’m being unfair, and certainly I’m being judgmental.

We all have the “I really should,” voice, but why is it that we can turn that off.  Why is it so easy to turn a blind eye, and convince ourselves to put it out of our mind?  Are we unmotivated? Are we uninspired?  Are we selfish?

As many of you know, my time in SA is nearing its expiry, and I just took a position in the states with a very large corporation.  Boiled down and put simply, my job will be to motivate people to get their work done.  How in the heck to I do that when we are ALL able to turn our head, and ignore the “should do” voice.  How do you inspire the uninspired?  How do you motivate the unmotivated?