Thursday 19th June 2008, 22:27Feeling Worth LessLast week I had the chance to visit Johannesburg and work with some amazing people who are seeking solutions to some very difficult community issues facing South Africa. I met up with Lesley Ann from Khulisa who manages to inspire me each time I meet her. We worked on developing new partnerships to tackle exclusion in Australia.
I also met Patrick a taxi driver who took me to visit his people in the Alexandra Township, where there has been an outbreak of xenophobic violence during the last month. He took me to the place where people live with one toilet between 15 houses, no privacy, no electricity, no modern appliances, no paved roads, little of no safety and no jobs.
The lack of jobs, opportunities, training and a way forward, a way out has crushed the soul of some of the people I met in Alexandra. There is a fear that they have been forgotten, there is a sense of feeling left behind – whilst others party in the sun of jobs and security and hope. No one can condone the violence and hatred which was displayed but I think we can all see the roots of the fear and the isolation which makes people feel the need to fight for what should be their fair share.
When I spoke to one man living in Alexandra I asked him to share with me his thoughts; he told me of feeling empty and worthless. He explained to me that for him feeling worthless was an empty place where his life and that of his wife and children was “worth-less” than anything else in his world. His life was worth less than the raw sewage outside his home, his children were worth less than the cost of basic education and their future was worth less than the investment it would take to give him the skills he needs to earn a living in a New South Africa where he wants to be proud.
I met the public sector bodies and they have the funds and a vision for a skilled South Africa, there is growing economy and will to leap forward.
There is a place for A4e in South Africa, we can take a role working in the most difficult of these communities and get alongside good people who feel worthless and empower them to see they are worth-more. They can gain the skills which the employers crave. They can be proud as their children get education and skills and jobs. A life, a family who feels worth-more builds a community with hope and leadership and the violence of the last month can be consigned to the history books.
I accept the accusation that I am simple, but I believe if we can Improve Peoples Lives, build skills, jobs, businesses and communities in South Africa we will have played our part in helping to make the events of last month a thing of the past.
Please contact me if you feel you can help A4e be a part of your community in South Africa.
Thanks
Roy
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