Here is the wrap-up from the third & final week in South Africa. Thank you to everyone for the support throughout, and I look forward to sharing what is to come next.
Days 6-16. St. Joseph’s Home for Chronically Ill Children
One of the stereotypes of Africa is that people are commonly ill and there are diseases everywhere. This misperception is thrown out the window as soon as you get off the plane and are walking around, but even being around children who have been diagnosed with cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic illnesses, you realize there is nothing to fear. They are just like you. And St. Joseph’s is a valuable organization that supports families who don’t have the resources to provide the necessary care for such kids coping with illness.
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Days 16-18. Johannesburg and Soweto
There is a draw to Johannesburg which I wonder if it has been felt by countless others in the past century who have migrated and made this city a center for economic and political power. Then again it could have just been the discovery of gold in 1886 and the death of 90% of the country’s cattle in the early 20th century that transformed the city and set in motion the end to white supremacy in South Africa. The heart of resistance to segregation started here in Johannesburg and Soweto, the largest township in South Africa, and its history is unlike any other place.
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Day 19. Safari
When I think of South Africa, I don’t think of the animals, though it is 1 of only 6 nations still home to the Big Five (lion, elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros). And it certainly wasn’t the purpose of the trip. But the experience was a blast, providing an opportunity to see more of the countryside, as well as the conservation industry which has helped protect an ever growing endangered population due to South Africa’s urban growth.
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