Context

Group Planning Work Shop & Planning for a Care Giver Group

            Over the past few weeks, Safe Line has grown more confident in my abilities as a social worker and community worker.  I am fluttering around the office planning a children’s group, caregiver group, activities booklet, updated their brochure, and a staff work shop.  Though I feel stretched, I am really enjoying the opportunity to incorporate my own ideas into the group work. 

The District 6 Museum

            The District 6 Museum is located on the edge of the almost barren former location of the sixth district of Cape Town.  The museum was formed to commemorate the destruction of an under served, but well connected community under the apartheid government.  The policies passed under the apartheid government lead to the destruction and displacement of a historically connected community based on skin color and hair texture.  These families were moved miles out of Cape Town to various Town Ships or informal settlements. 

            The goal of the museum is to attempt to capture what has been lost as well as give those families the opportunity to share their experiences both good and bad.  When you first step into the museum your eyes go to the canvas map of the community on the floor.  On the edges and streets of the map there are family names, addresses, poems written by former community members.

            Around the community map, the walls of the former church are covered with aging snap shots of families and friends who lived in District 6.  The photographs, street signs, and artifacts depict a vibrant and real community.  There are photos of women cooking together in kitchens, a bride, a man shaving, and other captured pieces of daily life in lost community. 

            As I wondered, I came upon a photograph of a family who lived in District Six in the 1950’s.  In the photo, each of the members holds a content smile and stand in a cobble stone street.  Under the photograph the capture reads, “The Petersen Family”.  

Quotes of the Day

 "It's like a bungy jump in my mouth."
"Licking through the pain to euphoria"
- Scott on the Charley's Bakery's cupcake & brownie. 

Carlos:  "That's Qaitlin-y"
Me:  "How would you define me in verb form?"
Carlos:  "Ummm...I don't know kind of like a cute, artsy, hippy thing?"