Maluti Mountains

The thorn bushes are ablaze with bright orange berries across this dramatic landscape. This northeastern part of the Free State looks a bit like Utah, with its strange red rock formations, but also has a mixture of beautiful trees and grasses. We are in the Maluti mountains, which is really the same range as the Drakensburg, but further east. The Maluti are mostly in Lesotho, which is a few kilometers from our cottage. Finally, a weekend of fun—horseback riding and hiking today through this remarkable area, and ending with a long yoga session facilitated by Erin, who just happens to be a yoga instructor. We are staying in a tiny stone cottage that looks out on a panorama that is so epic it is almost impossible to take in. Sunday, we are off to Lesotho and more hiking. We train on Monday, and then we’re off for the National Youth Day holiday that is a commeration of the Soweto uprising (June 16). On this day in 1976, Soweto students organized a march to protest the conditions in their schools and the apartheid government’s policy that half their subjects should be taught in Afrikaans. The police responded to the protest by shooting many unarmed children, which caused more protests and unrest throughout SA.

So, some of you may be wondering what is going on here politically. I’ve hesitated to weave the details into the blog because single facts can be confusing. We had stopped at a roadside rest stop on one of our first days, to catch Jacob Zuma giving his inauguration speech—in sunglasses no less. It sounded like a pre-election speech to us, but everyone in the building was glued to the t.v. as he spoke. We have also been here for the assignment of new cabinet posts, which except for the health minister, we don’t have much information to share. A new cabinet post was just created for issues relating to women and children. And, if you read the NYT you too know that unemployment is inching near 25% with the same percentage on government subsidies. COSATU, the Congress of South African Trade Unions are battling with Zuma, who made jobs his number 1 priority, but there isn't much to show for it. In his State of the Nation address two weeks ago he set out plans to create millions of temporary public works jobs, retrain workers facing layoffs, aid distressed companies and buy more goods made in South Africa. There is a strong tension in the country as a strong emphasis is being put on getting ready for the 2010 games (roads, stadiums, etc) versus keeping the pressure on jobs, education and everyday people issues.

This last group has been the largest yet—close to 30-- and very focused and sharp. As usual, the first day or two feels a bit uncomfortable as parents and practitioners and principals and others learn together for the first time. Then, the power relations break down and everyone is in it together. There are more community folks who are not practitioners or trainers in this group, such as those who work in programs for children with special needs, HIV/AIDS, or abuse, such as a two-year-old who was raped. They are a compelling group, and I particularly look forward to the session on “Talking with your children about difficult topics” because it feels like they will open up even more.
Nite,
va