Human Rights Training Weekend for Social Cohesion

28 Feb - 2 Mar 2014 the UConn's Study Abroad in Cape Town student/interns had the opportunity to gather with young adults from all over Africa to participate in a Human Rights Training for Social Cohesion Weekend.  A brief video describing the experience was made and can be viewed below:

In addition you can read what UConn students wrote about their experiences by clicking here

Sarah's Human Rights Training Weekend

 

Sarah (far left) with some of her housemates and new friends from the Human Rights Training Weekend.

I haven't written in a while . . . and have quite a bit of catching up to do!  I think it's now been just about a month since our weekend in Malmesbury. We traveled from Cape Town to arrive at an olive farm, where our Human Rights weekend was held. Just when I thought South Africa's natural beauty couldn't be more stunning, it was! I have seen nothing still to parallel the rolling hills and endless shades of green. Far and away, however, the best parts of the weekend were the people and the discussions. The program was run by the NGO Africa Unite and our history professor Vincent Williams. Besides our group of 26 American students, young people from all over Africa came to participate in the training.  It was quite amazing to hear perspectives from all over the world regarding the meaning of human rights.  It was also the first time on this trip that I've really gotten to learn about other countries in Africa. I never would have known, for example, that in Uganda, laws were passed just recently that persecute those who show homosexuality in public. Or that in Rwanda, there is currently a major economic crises coupled with staggering rates of unemployment. We discussed the difference between civil rights and human rights, and later the distinction between basic rights and access rights in South Africa. I think what was most enlightening about the weekend, though, was reflecting on the way in which we think. 

In one activity, we were divided in five or so groups. Each group was assigned a country in Africa. We were then given the following information: Earth was destroyed and human life would die if we stayed on the planet. Two of the five countries had already moved to the new, safe planet and settled in the inhabitable space there. Three countries were left behind on Earth and needed to leave if they were to survive. We were then told to break into country groups and discuss proposals to move to the new planet. 

Instantly, the two groups whose countries had moved safely began debating under what conditions they would allow the other countries onto "their" planet. They sought out what could be "in it for them."  Simultaneously, the three countries still on Earth began debating. What would they willingly concede? Citizenship? Property access? Voting eligibility? Within two minutes, the discussions turned to weaponry and war strategy - just in case, of course, war might be necessary to obtain space on the viable planet. Never mind that just twenty minutes ago we had defined human rights as a group. We had discussed the value of civil rights. We had discussed the danger of unbalanced power relations. We had discussed recent tragedies, where fellow humans seemed to forget that their enemies were human too. And suddenly, somehow, we were back to encouraging war and rights deprivation. It happened that quickly, that subconsciously. When we reconvened as a group, we were reminded that no countries had been given official ownership of the new planet - we had falsely assumed this. Our groups had found ourselves locked into a system of thinking based on power and privilege. And this was despite the fact that we had agreed to honor the principles of acceptance and equality only minutes earlier. How easily we turned to war while at a human rights conference certainly leaves a lot to reflect on . . . 

For the rest of the weekend, we participated in similar group activities. And also great fun. There was socializing, dancing, dress-up, singing, eating, and laughing. And I enjoyed a night under the stars amongst friends - yes we survived without being eaten by anything but mosquitos. Being in such a rural area, the olive farm was absolutely gorgeous at night. I've never seen the Milky Way so bright! After camping out for the night and three hours of sleep, I greeted my sore back with a sunrise hike up the mountain with Walsh . . . because why not take the opportunity? By the time we got to the top, I was glad we'd dragged each other out of bed (or up from the ground, that is). The view made a peaceful goodbye to our time at the olive farm. 

I'm happy to say we later got together with a few friends from human rights weekend, who introduced us to the infamous Mzolies. We chowed down on delicious braai meat - lamb, chicken, Boerewors, and beef - and sang to Shakira’s “Waka Waka" while enjoying the buzz of the place. Isaac was also gracious enough to welcome us into his humble home in the township called Europe. His section of the neighborhood is composed of shacks, portable toilets, and one water spicket. Isaac’s family is actually a fortunate exception - he recently built his own bathroom within the confines of his home and was proud to show us.  His wife and child will no longer have to travel in fear or in darkness to relieve themselves at night. Isaac also proudly showed us the foundation of his house, built so that "rats don't eat my babies!" Despite the overwhelming poverty present, Isaac reminded us of the strong sense of community he has amongst his neighbors.  It was evident in the kindness we were greeted with during our brief stop. We met his adorable children and friendly neighbors before heading back home to the comparative luxury of Loch. 

Kiya is ready to promote human rights everywhere she goes

Human rights weekend was by far one of the greatest experiences of my life. The food was great and the people were even better. I thought the weekend was going to be a bunch of forced relationships and lecturing. Not so much. I loved the atmosphere of the place we stayed and thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and the various activities we participated in. This weekend gave me the necessary tools to make a difference in my community. It gave me insight to what the people around me may be experiencing and their knowledge about what human rights is and what kind of world they want to see. It was interesting to hear the diverse responses from the individuals from different parts of Africa. 

Kiya (2nd from left) with her country group

The activity in particular that sparked interest in me was the new planet exercise. Initially I was not aware of the purpose of the assignment. It was not until we were all put together and able to hear how the countries who were afforded resources responded to other countries requesting to come onto their land. My country (one of the countries who was not given access to land initially) conversation before we spoke as a group resembled one of a minority group. We were willing to bargain and beg for our basic needs and rights even though in a perfect world no one would be denied them. In the end the groups that were privileged exhibit a great deal of power over the other countries. At some points they were not able to see the effects power can have over you. There was this sense of ownership over the land even though it did not technically belong to any one group. This activity was so important to me because it taught me about healing and forgiveness and why these two particular feelings are detrimental to creating change and moving on. In many situations we as a society cannot move on and unite because of what has been done to our people in the past. History prevents us from making a difference because we are worried about history repeating itself. We discussed what the process of healing looks like and the great things that can result from doing so.

Another activity that was very informative was an exercise that initially was confusing and frustrating to me. It was not until the exercise was over and we talked about it that I realized the purpose of what we done. We were given a form in a different language and told to fill it out with no other instructions. None of our questions were answered and when it was time to hand in our papers, almost all of us got denied or our papers were handed back to us. After this happened a couple of times we then had a discussion about asylum seekers. It was eye opening to see that this very process was similar to the experience they have when trying to become a refugee in another country. It put me in a position that now allows me to better understand what some of the people around me may have gone through or are still going through. At the end of our discussion I felt more aware of other human rights issues which is what I wanted to get out of the weekend.

Participants from the 2014 Africa Unite Human Rights Training for Social Cohesion

The people I now have relationships with were awesome. It was really touching and inpiring to hear horrible stories but see faces with smiles. I was around individuals who were not complaining and who genuinely appreciated everything they were given. I started to have a different take on life. The atmosphere was positive and people cared about what you had to say and what experiences you brought with you. I do feel like I can go into my communities and apply what I learned. I love the trainer`s manual we received at the end of the workshop. I plan to facilitate these workshops with my resident assistant staff and the other RAs in the different living areas. I hope to encourage others to do the same and promote human rights everywhere I go.

Kiya receiving her Human Rights Training Certificate from Ntombi Mcoyi from Africa Unite.

Katrina wondering how to make the world a better place for all

Looking up in wonder at the uninterrupted sky so filled with stars, a sight more awesome than I’ve ever seen, I wondered how in the world life brought me here to this moment. Sleeping outside under the stars on the middle of a stone pathway on a remote Olive Farm in South Africa piled together under blankets with students from UConn, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Tanzania, laughing together with the excitement of little kids. And what lead each of these new friends to this same spot, at a human rights training weekend with an organization called Africa Unite.

Katrina introducing herself to the group

I find myself thinking about this often here, how my past experiences, all the people I’ve met and all the decisions I’ve made have shaped where I am today and who I have become, and how different all of those experiences would be for each person I’ve been meeting, especially ones who’ve grown up in cultures completely different from my own. I’ve spend most of my life with people just like me, living in the white majority, a place of privilege and a place of comfort, never having to deal with the day to day issues that plague the majority of the world I live in: food, shelter, education, safety were always there for me. I’ve always assumed having access to these basic needs were my right as a human being, and after spending time this weekend defining human rights, I learned that many of these are, however much of the world is not awarded these rights. We characterized human rights as being universal, unalienable, indivisible and interdependent, yet each one of these principles has been violated time and time again throughout history, and more shockingly in each and every one of our cultures today. Human beings have such a high capacity for good and such a high capacity for evil, and we’ve learned as a society to fight each other before we work together, sometimes out of hate or anger but more often out of fear.

We did many activities split up into groups that each represented countries, and were given different situations where we had to work with other countries to solve a problem while advocating and fighting for the survival of our own. While everything started peacefully, it was crazy how quickly people got defensive and turned to solutions such as war, alliances and other dividing strategies simply because that’s what we know.

Katrina presenting for her group

Working together in a group with students from all over Africa was incredible, as well as just the entire weekend everyone getting to spend time together. The first night one of the kids suggested we each sing our national anthems, and my first reaction was please no, don’t make me awkwardly mumble the tune I’ve sang a million times yet still mess up. But when the other kids went, they sang their anthem with great pride and enthusiasm, and it was so incredible to have so many different countries represented in one place. In our small groups it was especially special, because each of us looked at each situation from SUCH different perspectives, not even just in solving the problem but how we interpreted the problem in the first place. In fact we had a lot of challenges organizing our ideas, especially in a limited amount of time, because we all approached it from different angles. But the final product from each group was always fun to watch, and each group was so unique.

Another of my favorite activities was simply going around and telling of a time each of us were in a situation where we were either a bystander, prosecutor, ally or a victim. Hearing people’s different struggles broke my heart. My friend from Tanzania spoke of how the time she was a bystander was a time she heard a women being beaten and eventually killed on the street outside her house, and how despite the woman’s cries for help she did nothing out of fear for her own life. This was completely mind blowing to me. There were many stories similar. Things so outside my world of comfort and safety. The violence, especially against women, was so striking to me, and you could tell each of the people here on this weekend were passionate about stopping it, as well as mobilizing and inspiring young people to break the cycle.  This weekend was so incredibly inspiring to me, and reminded me that young people are powerful, and put a bunch of us together in a room away from the world’s distractions and we can actually do big things.

As I slowly fall asleep under the stars that night, I am still trying to figure out how I can bring all this back to the states with me. And finding out what issues I am most passionate about changing.  But I know the other 15 young people falling asleep next to me are looking up to the stars as well, wondering how we can make the world they shine down on a better place. 

Katrina receiving her Africa Unite Human Rights Training Weekend Certificate

Emily W learned much more than she ever could have expected

Last weekend we participated in Human Rights training and I learned so much more than I was expecting to from it.  I didn’t really have any sort of background in human rights other than the occasion history class that touched on it so I was pretty nervous about the weekend.  I was worried that I was going to be the only one lost and confused, but that was not the case at all.  Everything was really laid out well and I was able to learn a lot.  I learned what human rights actually are and the breakdown of the different kinds.  I also learned so much about different cultures and ways of life.  By being with people from all over Africa, I was given the opportunity to find out how people live and their stories. 

I think this weekend was incredibly significant for us.  It is important to know about human rights and the different ways they can be applied.  It is also important to know the ways in which some people are being wronged throughout the world.  Of course I knew that some countries didn’t treat their citizens well, but it all became so real when the stories were coming from real people sitting right in front of you.  You can read about the disparity of human rights for days on end, but I feel as though you cannot gain a true understanding of it until you meet the real people it affects. 

Emily learning from personal stories and well planned activities.

 My roommate had an amazing story to tell.  She moved to Cape Town from Zimbabwe when she was 12 and then her mom died when she was 16, which left her with three older brothers and no parents.  Due to family politics, she didn’t get her share of her mother’s diamond mines in Zimbabwe so she was left with almost nothing as a young teenager.  She got her life together and received a scholarship to attend a university, but failed three of her classes due to many different reasons and her scholarship was pulled.  She now has a job and is going to try to go back to school.  She is 21 years old.  I am 21 years old.  I could not believe how much different our lives are.  I don’t even do my own laundry at home or cook my own food and she has been by herself since the age of 16.  After talking with her I realized how much I have taken for granted.  My parents have been one of the biggest influences on my life and have led me through everything and I couldn’t image it any other way.  I almost just assumed that everyone’s parents were like mine and now I hope that I can take what I learned this weekend and be a better person.  Even if I just thank my parents more and make them proud, I would be doing more than I am right now.  This weekend definitely changed me for the better.

 

Prior to this weekend I didn’t know the country Swaziland existed.  This weekend really introduced me to a whole new part of the world.  Through the country presentations, I learned about the issues and culture of many different African countries.   I also learned about how much South Africa is still struggling when it comes to human rights. 

Emily receving her Africa Unite Human Rights Training Certificate from Ntombi Mcoyi

One of my favorite parts of the weekend was sleeping under the stars Saturday night.   A few of us decided to take blankets and lay out under the stars.  I have never seen so many stars in my life and although it probably wasn’t the safest idea, I absolutely loved sleeping outside.  We woke up the next morning and hiked to the top of a little mountain that had the most amazing view of the entire olive farm. I wish we would have had more time to explore, but I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. 

Participants in 2014 Africa Unite Human Rights Training Weekend

David on a journey in which the learning continues

Last weekend, we participated in a human rights training retreat through Africa Unite, and were able to spend the entire weekend working and learning with students from across South Africa and the continent. Far away from the city at a picturesque rural olive farm, we made connections, learned collectively about the principles of human rights, and put ourselves to the test in a variety of challenges and group activities. I had a fantastic time this weekend, and enjoyed making connections and finding commonalities with students that come from very different backgrounds from mine    

On Friday afternoon, we left Cape Town and headed north to Malmesbury, through rolling hills and cultivated fields. I was seated next to Adrie in the bus, a South African woman from the Overberg, and we talked for over an hour about our respective experiences and areas of interest. From the beginning of the trip I resolved to take full advantage of the opportunity to meet and connect with the other students from Africa Unite, and I began this in my conversation with Adrie. 

It struck me that this weekend marked our first time leaving the city of Cape Town and its immediate environs. The landscape was serenely beautiful and spare, and in the evening clouds swirled low overhead. We traveled to Goedgedact, an expansive olive farm nestled between rolling plains and a rocky ridge. We almost immediately were treated to a delicious dinner, and a brief introductory evening. My roommate for the experience was Abdul, a young man from Bishop Lavis, a community near Table Bay. We had a good hour-long conversation before dinner where we got to know each other’s basic details and reasons for wanting to participate in the training. Abdul was the first of several people to assume that I was significantly older and more established than I am. I wondered why it is that people get this impression, and what that means

David working with his group

We really got into the training on Saturday, and learned that much of our time would be spent preparing for and engaging in a sort of mock United Nations-esque activity, where we took on the role of nations within the continent and engaged in a variety of activities. My group was well mixed between UConn students and African students, including Abdul. We chose to focus on Congo and gave a fine presentation on Sunday. Between those two points, there were plenty of opportunities to work on activities with the other students, and converse at mealtime. It was then, and later on Saturday night after the day’s work was finished, that I feel like I had the most substantive and rewarding interactions

David & Maria  discussing Human Rights

I particularly enjoyed the evening and the spirited conversation I was able to have with another young activist from Cape Town, with whom I was able to discuss queer politics and identity in specifically South African context. I was really glad I was able to have that and many other interactions. I also went swimming in the dam later that night with a few people, and found myself floating on my back in the pitch dark night, seeing only vague outlines around me and a sky studded with stars. I’m in Africa, I kept repeating to myself.

By the time Sunday rolled around, I was almost literally impregnated with feta cheese and jolly as hell. We finished our activities in the morning and said our goodbyes, exchanging information and promising to meet up again. Only a week has passed, and already I have made good on that promise.

David receiving his Africa Unite Human Rights Training Certificate at the conclusion of the weekend

The weather turned cloudy and rain began to fall on the way home. I was in a pensive mood; on that occasion I listened to Act III of RichardWagner’s Parsifal and found myself visualizing the music within the rolling hills and plains we drove through. Late in Act III ofParsifal, the wearied and lost protagonists find redemption and promise through a blessed series of events, occurring conspicuously on Good Friday. In a daze, the eponymous protagonist gazes at the landscape around him and suddenly realizes its beauty, as if nature itself has been transformed and redeemed. The music accompanying this realization, the Good Friday Spell, speaks to that transformation and the beauty of nature, and yet reflects the echoing pain and regret that frames the protagonists’ perception of this occurring miracle.

As I gazed at the rolling hills and golden fields, I internalized these emotions (as only music can do) found connections with my experience in Cape Town, and my perceptions of South African life and history on the whole. I was glad to have this experience, and glad even to feel the rain on my skin when we returned to the city. The learning continues.