I co-taught 6 drama/dance classes everyday to 125 girls (mostly from Soweto , one of the largest and poorest townships of Johannesburg ). Although only 10 out of the whole group were HIV positive, all of these girls had been affected by HIV in some way. Many were orphans who had lost both parents to AIDS, or lived with family members who were infected.
When I was not teaching theater to the girls I was the vocheli (Zulu word for counselor) for Cabin A, (Cabin Angels!) where the youngest 10 year old campers were. Most of my girls were Zulu, although there was one from the Sutu tribe and two that were Xlosa (the same as Mandela). As some of you might know, I am fascinated by different cultures and love learning new languages. I was excited to learn some Zulu, so my girls and I formed a pact; for every Spanish word I taught them, they taught me a Zulu one!
My girls (from Cabin A, who I spent every "free" moment with) were so beautiful, smart and anxious to be loved. Camp was a wonderful, and I believe important, experience for them. They were able to let go of all the problems they face in their everyday lives and just be girls, be children! They did sports, swimming (many had never seen or been in a pool), arts and crafts, singing, dancing and theater. Most importantly they had a class everyday called Life Skills, where they dealt with a different subject everyday such as types of abuse, self worth, children’s' rights, sexual orientation, safe sex and HIV and AIDS.
In my class we combined the themes they spoke about in Life Skills and used them as our daily themes as well in a hands-on artistic way. When we spoke about self worth, for example, we asked the girls to write poems with the simple instruction of using: I AM and I CAN. Wow. That day poets were born! From more simple poems by the youngest ones writing: "I AM an angel in cabin A, and I can sing like vocheli Mino " to the older ones writing: "I am a proud South African woman and I can be whatever I want to be. I can change my country and change the world!" It was amazing. I had tears in my eyes full of hope and love in every class that day.
In another class we spoke about our Rights and Responsibilities. They mentioned, for example, the right to clean water, and the responsibility not to waste it. We took it a step further and said how they have the right to a better world, and the responsibility, as today's youth, to create it! We spoke about how theater lets us "see things in a different way", and that day had a wonderful class where I taught them all different kinds of improvisation games. They had the time of their lives breaking "rules" and having fun!
By the end of the two weeks the girls changed. They grew, they learned, they laughed and played probably more than they had ever had the opportunity to do so before. I got a few beautiful letters from 6 or 8 campers thanking me for "giving me my voice" for "letting me see I have the confidence to be what I want”. For "inspiring me to be an actress" to "change the world"... Truly beautiful, powerful words that make me know I did something right. I know I marked them, as much as they marked me, and I can't wait to see what strong women they will be one day.
I believe in my heart that this experience has changed them. Many of these girls will strive beyond their boundaries and break expectations. They will succeed as women, Africans and citizens of the world, in the true sense of the word.
Thank you for making this happen. Thank you all for your support. No matter how much or how little you "donated" to this cause, every penny made it happen; and I am eternally grateful. I promise that your donations went to a wonderful cause, I am honored that I was able to live it.
As they say in South Africa:
Peace, Love and Happiness,
mino.
