From the Foreign Legion - 7 August 2008
This is a job so rough that no local could do it. We had to hire the Canadian Foreign Legion to grind out the bottom of our staff toilet.
Today there aren't any kids featured in our news because there is a transport strike on. Most of our kids walk to the centre from nearby streets so we aren't sure why they have been affected by the strike. It could be that they have joined the Youth League of one of the unions and are practicing for when they get jobs.
Screening refugees - 26 May 2008
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Over the last few days our local police station has filled with refugees, who were not able to stay at home in case they were asked what the Zulu word for elbow is (no exaggeration - a foreign black person's life can hang on this, since the word is not commonly used only a local would know it. It has been used as a conclusive test of people's right to live over the last week - the correct answer is "indololwane" in case somebody points a sharp object at you and asks).
There are rumours that our neighbourhood is in for another rough weekend, but the men pictured left had some light relief from Dylan Fath and the other Joseph Projectors who did an open-air screening of the recent Chelsea vs Man United final. It was extremely well-attended because they used the bedroom/kitchen/lounge/toilet area that the refugees inhabit in the back yard of the police station, so even the disinterested (which were only the sleeping babies, it seems) got a good view of the game because they had nowhere else to go.
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Most refugees avoid a visit to the police station because it can be expensive if a crooked cop gets hold of them, but now they have arrived in droves. Left are two prisoners who are sweeping their way through the crowd. There are around 3000 people accomodated at our two local police stations, so no wonder the cops are finding lots of patrolling to do away from their offices....
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A Moslem and a Christian aid worker help with the food. The citizens are unanimously annoyed with the top levels of government, who have expressed shock and dismay from various international events that they have been attending while the riots progressed. Huge amounts of food and clothing have been donated by the community. For their part the government has agreed not to deport the refugees who have arrived at the police stations (normally the poliec have to go out looking for them), though many have chosen to go home on the buses that arrive.
For first-person reports check http://www.mr-boohiss.blogspot.com which is the blog of one of our staff who has been in the thick of it. |
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These spectacles were handmade at a workshop run by some JP volunteers. Our crew has been doing good things in feeding the people and entertaining the kids - sadly some of them came to our afternoon program up until last week, but as of now it is unsafe for them to cross the road outside the police station to go and buy a snack; two Congolese tried yesterday and got stabbed for their efforts.
More prayers please - and if you are a South African who is donating things - don't do a drive-by and throw things out of your car, go in and help the aid workers because they are already drowning in mixed vegetables and shoe donations from one-footed people :) |
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