"In and through community lies the salvation of the world" (M. Scott Peck - The Different Drum) But, "Community is currently rare". Living in rural Eastern Cape is one way to discover community though. Here, everyone knows everyone, nothing is hidden, or for very long anyway. Someone’s problem is everyone’s problem and it would be discussed on tribal meetings at the headman’s place once a week. When someone takes something that doesn't belong to him, the headman would get on his horse and look that person up and resolve the matter, and if he is difficult about it, the whole community would stand behind the headman. If he confesses, he would be punished and immediately accepted back as if nothing happened. People with disabilities are treated as if they have special powers and old people become part of a "respected elderly" group which gives them a place of authority and a voice to be carried along as they eventually take their place with the ancestors.
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A place where
people do together
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It is here where the "developed world" could truly still learn a lesson or two from aspects of a culture which are quickly diminishing under the pressures of the dominating individualistic and exclusivist cultures of the world.
| Conservation of these aspects forms the essence of this program. Change is good, but the principles underlying the flow of water through the ever changing river, like gravity, momentum, the nature of H2O, the nature of soil and rock and that there would always be an ocean and rain, these things doesn’t change. |
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It is probably the most difficult program to obtain funds for though. It entails projects like:
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- Supporting Tribal Authority infrastructure which has to continually compete with a developing government growing infrastructure
- Cultural Villages, Youth Centers and Community Halls where cultural functions and activities could be celebrated, cultural awareness programs could be introduced to the youth and exchange engagements between different cultures could be facilitated.
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- Support towards the local sports like soccer, netball, stick fighting and rope jumping, and functions like choir competitions. In a world where your culture is rapidly being invaded by a much more "shinier" one, especially the youth becomes a bit lost. We were recently approached by local councilors about alcohol and drug abuse by the youth, as well as youth pregnancies. This is a very recent development in this area, actually it is something just starting to happen now which confirms the loss of guidance.
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