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This week was the week that stories began to unfold, and I forged deeper connections with the kids at SOS Cape Town. I learned how children have to advocate for themselves, how they have to demand a voice in front of leadership because they are constantly deprived of having their opinions heard. Through conversations and encounters, I began to understand why the children rely on each other to protect themselves, to advocate for each other, and to keep each other afloat. One example is the very real inaccessibility of mental health professionals, and the unprocessed experiences that the kids have brought with them to SOS. With these experiences comes baggage and resulting behavior that the kids inflict on each other, resulting in a seemingly endless cycle of suffering and trauma. While I struggled this week with feelings of helplessness in my ability to be something meaningful and significant to the kids, there were small moments that revealed to me that simply being there and listening was enough. It was one of my students who said she could treat me like her journal, and another who said they could release all their anger during dance class that demonstrated to me the significance of a safe presence, just as a mental health professional might be significant.
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In getting to know my students better, I have also found that they have been teaching me much about resilience, the power of shamelessness, South African styles of dance, and so much more. Amapiano, a popular style of South African music and dance, has been a consistent theme amongst the kids during my time in Cape Town. This week I had the privilege of learning the dance to Isaka (6am) from one of my most enthusiastic dancers. I also put together and gave a presentation on bachata and salsa and taught the basic steps using music such as “Oh que sera” and “Tu Me Vuelves Loco”.
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In looking back in my journal from this week, I am struck by two observations I made:
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“If I were in their shoes, I would like to imagine that I would use my voice too, to call something into existence I felt had yet to emerge. Push the sun into the sky with my fingertips, make myself known in a world that does not know me”.
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“They love running! They love laughing. We dance for each other, with each other, bringing about joy and chaos in a beautifully orchestrated way.”
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Signing off, Elizabeth W. 🌸
Elizabeth Wallace
(She/Her)
Student , Columbia University
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