Act 7: Is This Worth Fighting For?
Act VII: Scenes I-IV
Introduction:
This act follows our team through one of the most difficult weeks we faced over the course of our time in Cape Town. The following scenes, like all scenes, were written in the moment, and reflect the emotions we felt during those days; they do not necessarily reflect our current emotions and opinions. This act provides an opportunity to to fully understand the problems that existed, as well as the way we went about facing them.
Scene I: A Day of Celebration, Sorrow, and Hope
Backstory:
Our group had just returned from a five-day Thanksgiving vacation knowing that today was a day for HIV recognition. Before departing for break, our group implemented a kiosk for the community members to run as a test trial. We had also completed a final draft of the Sidiniwe Savings Group Constitution.
Cast of Characters:
WPI WaSH-UP Business Operations team, WPI WaSH-UP Services team, Sizwe Mxobo, Trevor
Setting:
Langrug Informal Settlement; Mandela Park WaSH-UP facility
Scene:
While driving toward Langrug on what had previously appeared to be a normal day, we noticed groups of children and adults chanting various quotes about HIV and aids. The importance of the day quickly became apparent us. When we arrive on site at the WaSH facility, the ladies were in a good mood and spirits were very high. “This day is not a regular day and typically, not a working day” said one of the community leaders. The ladies told us that usually they spend this day down town at a large festival. After speaking with community leader, Trevor, we realized the importance of HIV day to the community and decided that we should take part in the activities.
Our group met with the co-researchers for the morning portion of the work day before departing for food and HIV discussions. In the morning we went over the successes of the kiosk as well as the struggles. We also talked about the savings group management but were upset to find out that the expected monthly meeting would not be happening on this day. This would mark the second time that our group was supposed to experience a Sidiniwe Savings Group meeting and nothing happened. Nonetheless, we soon dispersed to begin preparations for our afternoon HIV celebration.
Reflection and Learning:
Overall, the day was a great experience. Our group was happy to see the importance of the day and the prevalence of HIV awareness. Unfortunately we did not accomplish as much work as we expected but the value of understanding our co-researchers struggles was well worth our time.
~
Scene II: Where Do We Go From Here?
Backstory:
During the car ride home from Langrug on Monday, the WaSH-UP Business Operations team learned that one of the caretakers had not been permitted a key to the caretaker office during the time we were gone on safari (Wednesday-Sunday). The reasoning was that she was not part of the savings group and that she had not been trained on how to run the kiosk. This created a great deal of unrest, and made the victimized caretaker feel unimportant and unwelcomed in the facility. This action alarmed both WaSH teams greatly. We all agreed that this was unacceptable behavior, and decided that the first item on Tuesday’s agenda had to be discussing this problem.
Cast of Characters:
WPI WaSH-UP Business Operations team, WPI WaSH-UP Services team, Sidiniwe Savings Group, Sizwe Mxobo
Setting:
Langrug Informal Settlement; Mandela Park WaSH-UP facility
Scene:
Upon arriving at the Mandela WaSH-UP Facility, we quickly jumped into the conversation of key dispersal. We weren’t entirely sure what to expect, but what followed was certainly not the anticipated conversation. When we tried to ask how many sets of keys existed and who had access to those keys, we were met with silence. The conversation progressed extremely slowly and it was almost impossible to get the community members to answer simple questions. It soon became clear to us that this was just the tip of the iceberg. Around this issue of not providing keys to the caretaker revolved a much bigger issue of trust. It became quite upsetting to watch this unfold. We were not always sure what was being said but we could see the community members becoming increasingly upset with the caretaker who was refused access. This caretaker finally broke out in tears. We determined that we could not provide them with the help they needed, and it was up to them to solve this problem. In order to give them the necessary space, both teams left the facility, got in the van, and drove into town.
The next two and a half hours were spent in the van, parked on a quiet street of Franschhoek and talking about where we would go from here. We suddenly realized that our projects had the potential to completely change at this point, depending on what would happen while we were gone. During our discussion, we came to understand that at the heart of the problems faced by the community members results from one major issue: lack of trust. The community members had no trust in each other, and therefore could not work together as a cohesive unit. It was an alarming thought, considering that both projects relied heavily on teamwork and trust. We couldn’t help but wonder what was going on back in Langrug while we were discussing the future of our projects.
Upon arriving back in Langrug, we were faced with a disheartening reality. The community members told us they had come to an agreement on how to handle the caretaker office but it was evident by the body language of some of the women that the agreement was not unanimous. We pressed them to provide us with more information on their two-hour discussion but all we got was a quick five-minute recap. We tried for another hour to gain more insight into their problems but we did not succeed, and so we decided it was time to leave. We left them with a homework assignment: anonymously write down ways that members have hurt you and then discuss how to improve relationships amongst the group members.
Reflection and Learning:
As we drove away from Langrug, we were faced with difficult thoughts about the future of our projects: they might be going in a totally different direction than we ever thought possible. It was unsettling to the group, not knowing what was to become of the past month’s work. For our team, it was overwhelming to say the least. Going into the day, we had all these plans about how the next two weeks would play out in terms of our project, and as we drove away, we realized we might be throwing all those plans away.
As uncomfortable as we all felt, we had to try to stay positive about the situation. Even though the day had not gone as planned in any way, we left the community members with a task and we were optimistic that they would complete it, helping us gain some insight into the challenges faced by the group.
~
Scene III: The Real Problem is Becoming Clear
Backstory:
The past few weeks have been a roller coaster of ups and downs for both WaSH teams. While some progress was made, there seemed to be some sort of underlying problem that was hindering any monumental progress in the projects. However, it was not clear as to what the real problem was within the group. Was it an issue of money? Were our manuals and guidelines unclear? Was there a communication error? Were group dynamics off? Or was it a problem much larger than that? Both WaSH teams went into this day determined to get to the root of the problem to ensure the last few days of the project were productive.
Cast of Characters:
WPI WaSH-UP Business Operations team, Sidiniwe Savings Group, Sizwe Mxobo, Alfred
Setting:
Langrug Informal Settlement; Mandela Park WaSH-UP facility
Scene:
When the WaSH teams arrived in Langrug this morning we found most of the co-researchers in the facility ready to begin work. Once everyone was settled, we began to discuss our plan for the day, which was to discuss how their Wednesday went without us and if they had made any progress. On Tuesday, we had left them with an activity to write down any problems or concerns they had that could be voiced anonymously. One of the main hindrances to the project’s progress has been poor community dynamics. The community co-researchers have expressed that they do not trust each other. Unfortunately this lack of trust has lead to an inability for them to work together efficiently to further the operations of the facility.
Once the conversation of the day was started, both teams were informed that the co-researchers had not done the activity that we had left for them. Rather they had left the facility once we had gone for the day. This meant that the community dynamic problem was still untouched. To help the community members learn how to communicate problems with one another and to build enough trust to work with one another, we decided to have an open discussion and have each person just say one thing that bothered them. Through this activity we hoped to make each community member more comfortable expressing themselves in front of the group.
While this conversation seemed to be going well, it was a very heavy conversation that seemed to be wearing on many of the frustrated co-researchers. At this point in the day, the group took a quick break to regroup and clear our heads. The two student teams decided to meet outside the facility to brainstorm a new way to facilitate this conversation. We first started by identifying the main problem which we could help address: the Savings Group! Although the community dynamics would still be an overarching problem that would need to be solved over time, the confusion about the savings group could be addressed immediately!
Throughout this conversation we were able to address many of the problems that exist in the savings group. These problems included who was handling the money, record keeping, joining fees, personal loans, meetings and many more! While it was clear that there were many confusions and issues with the savings group that our team was not completely aware of, we gained a sense of progress after this discussion. The fundamental challenges surrounding the savings group were finally coming into light. Now that these problems had been laid out, our group was hopeful that we could make substantial headway in the coming days to improve them.
Reflection and Learning:
Our team has endured many long and difficult conversations with our co-researchers. These conversations are tedious for both the co-researchers and our group because they have dug through many deep-rooted issues that have been neglected for so long. While these conversations seemed to be leading nowhere for quite sometime, the team finally felt the impact that these kinds of conversations can have on the community. By facilitating this conversation we were able to get community members to discuss difficult topics to provide critical insight. The information that was gathered on this day will prove to be pivotal in our teams’ project as it continues. Now that the fundamental challenges of the savings group are known, we can begin to offer alternative solutions!
~
Scene IV: The Beginning of the End
Backstory:
The team had returned to the facility after a day in which we were uncertain of how the discussion of the past day would play out. We were hopeful that the discussion and the emotional implications would be a breakthrough and mean that all of the issues we had been experiencing cyclically over the past few weeks.
Cast of Characters:
WPI WaSH-UP Business Operations team, WaSH-UP Services team
Setting:
Langrug Informal Settlement; Mandela Park WaSH-UP facility
Scene:
On this Friday morning, the team headed out to Langrug high in spirits. The team came with a sense of optimism after the discussion we had ended up having the previous day. When we arrived, it appeared as if that conversation would allow the team to make quality strides toward the goals of this project. On top of that, it firstly appeared as if the problems were gone. Once the team got into discussion with the community members, it became evident that none of these previous assumptions would hold true. After a brief discussion in which it was evident there was no motivation to move either project forward, the team left Langrug for possibly the last time.
Reflection and Learning:
This day was the culmination of the negative aspects of our project experience. In the past seven weeks, our team has faced reluctance to participate, petty squabbles between community members, unacceptable effort, and drunkenness.
In hindsight, the team had been working with these problems since day one and the way we were able to continue to push forward and accomplish goals is astounding. Although we did all we could to work through, around, or against these problems, all efforts were in vain. These problems did not just stem from the community members we were most closely working with. There were multiple times when the president of Langrug showed up drunk to greet us and work with us. Although this evidence seems to suggest the behavior is systemic and understandable, it was not acceptable. This type of behavior along with the sense of entitlement held by the community members is the reason for this projects failure to reach fruition in its fullest.
Though most of this process was almost completely one-sided from the effort aspect, the team accomplished many wonderful things. This day was the proof needed to tip the scales and prove to ourselves that this was going to be a losing cause. We were not part of this community and no matter how much we want success for ourselves, our co-researchers, and all 5,000 residents of Langrug, it was unreasonable to believe that success was still an option.