Cape Town, South Africa
Beading Township Tour
In the wee hours of the morning I travelled to the city to meet the family I would escort to the townships. The nerves were definately there, like an artist with stage fright.
I met the driver, Ozzy, and the family from Norway. Father, mother and two children, a boy named David, and a girl named Thea.
We got onto the vehicle and drove to the Signal Hill part of the Table Mountain range. This is a perfect spot for a photo opportunity as it looks over the Green Point area with the new stadium. The V&A waterfront not far off from there, where you can take a ferry to the Robben Island that is completely surrounded by the Atlantic ocean.
We drove to the Streetwires beading project, where Reginald took us on a brief tour of the premises before we sat down and got embroiled in the beading.
Reggie, from Streetwires, showing us how to operate the wire FM radio!
We were given star shaped wire frames and beads to create key rings.
The young boy, David, was excellent and his key ring was by far the best! While it took me a quite a while to get the beading right.
Busy beading...
From Streetwires,we left the city for Khayelitsha, Cape Town's largest township.
We visited a beading project and met Rasta* who made a car out of a Fanta can for David.
* Real name, Monwabisi, a.k.a Rasta
The family learned about the Xhosa culture and language, they bought a few beaded items as souvenirs of their township visit.
From Rasta's hospitality, we visited the Learn to Earn project, also in Khayelitsha. The projects teaches skills to the community and sources employment and helps the graduates in starting up their own busness ventures.
From Learn to Earn we visited Andiswa's home and family in Montana for some lunch, I am salivating as I type this- absolutely tasty food!
Sumptous Lunch @Montana!
The End to an infinitely great day
I ended this day with a big smile.
Thanks to the Hettasch family, Ozzy and everyone who made this tour a success!
TOUR REVIEW
May 04, 2010, 3:40 PM
We attended a beadingtour in March 2010. A wonderful experience! It was one of the highlights of our South-Africa trip. We attended a beading workshop, visited the amazing "Streetwires"- project and were moved by the warmth of the people we met in the township Kayelitsha.
Driver Ossie and guide Vuyo were excellent - competent, warm and funny. We went with our children (8 and 13) and highly recommend this tour for families. We felt absolutely safe and very welcome everywhere and had a lot of fun.
And most important: we got a realistic, optimistic and positive view on the rainbow nation - both children and parents had a great time - and got a bit wiser.
Kirsti H, Norway
Contact VUYO
Infinite Beauty Travel
Township Tour R350 p.p 3.5hours
info@ibtravel.co.za
www.ibtravel.co.za
