My first visit

My first site visit to Kwa Thema was very interesting. I had no prior experience of the township and was determined to just go and observe and try and absorb the environment. So I refrained from taking pictures and instead just observed and listened. My first surprise was the goats walking freely in the road and in the park. It seemed in stark contrast to the dense but low-rise fabric of Kwa Thema. The other contrast was in the houses themselves, with some being well tended, neat and cared for while others were more untidy and neglected. But what really impressed me was the variety in the materials used to create boundary walls or fences or to decorate the outside of the houses. There seemed to be a sense of creativity and ingenuity despite the sometimes dire economic situations. Above all there was a sense of pride in people’s homes.

We had a lovely lunch in Tshepele’s house and the sense of welcome was laid plentiful on the table with large bowls of food. My anxiety of the unknown was also laid to rest.