Act 2: Getting the Business Up and Running
Act II: Scenes I-IV
Introduction:
The team’s second week of the project was spent delving deeper into the co-researcher relationships that would be important when moving forward with the project. The first few days of this week were full of celebrations, emotions and other moments, which helped the team gather a deeper understanding of the community we were becoming a part of. By the end of the week the team really began making moves on the project, learning more about what exactly the WaSH-UP program is all about.
Scene I: Breaking Bread
Backstory:
On Friday, as we left the WaSH facility after our second day of work we were informed that there would be two birthdays in our group over the weekend into Monday. The two birthdays that were to be celebrated were for Sizwe, our sponsor, and Mama Poto, one of the facility caretakers. Both WaSH teams decided that they would like to do something special to celebrate these special days and connect more with the community. To do so, the team prepared to have a special lunch with the community with sandwiches, soda, chips and even cake. The following scene describes the teams’ unexpected experience at this lunch.
Cast of Characters:
Sizwe Mxobo, Mama Poto, WPI WaSH-UP Business Operations team, WPI WaSH-UP Services team
Setting:
Langrug Informal Settlement; Mandela Park WaSH-UP facility
Scene:
After making some headway in our preliminary work with the community members the group decided to break for the day and end by having lunch together. Before this day, Sizwe had informed our group that breaking bread is an important symbol in the community. It is a symbol of a more deep connection between people and is almost a representation of friendship.
As we were about to open the cakes to celebrate the birthdays in the group, Sizwe stopped us. He told the group “in our community we cannot just eat cake. It is a special thing and we do not get to enjoy it often. Before we eat the cake we must say a prayer.” At this point everyone in the group stood in a circle, held hands and bowed our heads. Mama Poto began saying a beautiful prayer in Xhosa.
Sizwe and Mama Poto prepare to cut their cakes
Even though we couldn’t understand the words that were being said, we could feel the meaning in what Mama Poto was praying for. Everyone in the group could sense the incredible sense of gratitude that filled the room. Additionally, it was interesting to see the connections between cultures. At home, some of us follow the tradition of saying grace before we eat meals and blessing the food we eat. It was a unique bonding moment to be able to experience the same concept in this moment.
Reflection and Learning:
Although this scene isn’t directly related to our project work, it brings about an important concept. Through this special moment we shared with the community we were able to see that we were really accepted here. The community and our group came together as one to share this meal and this special moment. In this instance we were also able to see that though we come from very different places, we all share common bonds. The common idea of blessing food and prayers of thanks were a way for our group to truly appreciate the level of similarity between our two cultures.
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Scene II: Thinking Bigger
Backstory:
Over the course of the past couple days, our team became more comfortable with the community itself, as well as with the members of the community. To connect with the individuals on a more personal level, we participated in multiple bonding exercises that proved hugely beneficial to the group dynamic. The day on which this scene takes place was the first day the two WaSH teams divided and worked independently from one another in order to gain more project-specific information.
Cast of Characters:
Zodwa, Amanda, WPI WaSH-UP Business Operations team
Setting:
Langrug Informal Settlement; Mandela Park WaSH-UP facility
Scene:
It was our first day of individual group discussions to facilitate bringing up ideas that were integral to each of our projects. In this we had two of the savings group members, Zodwa and Amanda. Both of these women are active members in the group and were integral to understanding the concepts and procedures that make up the savings group. We were sitting around a table in the WaSH facility talking about where they were coming from and what our roles would be in this process. It was also a meeting to establish what the current state of the savings group was and what the savings group mission for our project would be.
Reflection and Learning:
Immediately after sitting down with these women, it became abundantly clear that these women would be doing as much if not more with this project than the team would. They were so motivated and excited for this project it kind of took us by surprise. It was a wonderful experience knowing that the idea we had were building off of the ideas the savings group had had originally which made them that much more invested. The more we talked with the ladies the more we realized that this group makes decisions after consulting all group members. This aspect of the group was not something, we as a group, were expecting. We came into this experience thinking there were a few leaders who made decisions after consulting the group, but the cohesiveness of this group is amazing and will continue to help the efforts.
After speaking with the ladies for a while, it became clear what their intentions and plans were and how we were to be facilitators opposed to leaders in the process. This group had so much motivation and determination, they needed a clear direction to put it in which is where our group comes in. After some discussion we began to relay our plans for revenue streams as well as overall business plans to these ladies. Their response was something unforgettable: “Think bigger”. The fact that these ladies who had only formed about four months ago had told us we were being too conservative was astounding and spectacular.
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Scene III: Don’t Wear Other People’s Pain
Backstory:
On Wednesday, October 29th, we gathered together for our first “Show and Tell” of the term, where each group shares pictures from the previous week and explains what they’ve been doing over the course of their time here. Sizwe Mxobo stopped by the lodge to watch our presentations, and ended up staying over, talking with the Cape Town Project Centre students for several hours. During that time, he shared a lot of valuable information with us, and gave us all the opportunity to learn more about each other.
Cast of Characters:
Sizwe Mxobo, WPI Project Advisors, Cape Town Project Center Students
Setting:
St. John’s Waterfront Lodge
This event took place at the waterfront lodge, which has been the place of residence for CTPC students since 2008.
Scene:
After sharing our pictures with everyone, Sizwe asked if he could be allowed to ask some questions to the teams. He started by commenting on how great all the pictures were, and how great our work here is. He then transitioned to talking about how we must not carry other people’s pain with us. It is not our job to feel the pain of everyone else’s sorrows, but to be there for them and allow them to share it with us. We shouldn’t feel bad for people who are in difficult circumstances, but we should be open to learning about and from their stories.
Sizwe then asked for us to share how these projects and the people we work with have changed us so far. We all answered in different ways, before Scott turned the table on him, asking Sizwe how the projects, and our being here, have affected him. His answer was quite moving. He explained that he has been struggling with the loss of his mother, and how he was unsure how he was going to be able to celebrate his birthday on Monday without her. The two WaSH teams brought him cake, as described in our previous scene, and sang happy birthday to him. He told us how much it meant to him, and how it helped him understand how he could celebrate despite the loss of his mother. We had thought it was just a nice gesture to bring him a cake on his birthday, but to him it meant so much more.
Reflection and Learning:
Once Sizwe shared his story, we all started to become more comfortable with sharing our own stories. He began by talking about who we are as people, and if we even know who we really are. After this, he encouraged us to share something that we feel the rest of the group should know about ourselves that they might not already know. At this point, we started to get a lot closer with each other and started sharing some rather strong stuff with each other. We learned things about each other that we never would have otherwise known, and it made us realize that we each carry things with us that affect who we are as individuals. Many of us discussed the role bullying played in our lives, and how even now it affects our actions. It was one of the most incredible experiences we’ve had on this trip; talking to each other on such a personal and intimate level made us all come closer.
At the end of the conversation, we thanked Sizwe for helping us learn so much about each other, but he refused to take any credit for his work. We all walked away from this encounter feeling very different about each other, and ourselves, than when we first walked into the lodge common room earlier in the evening. This scene was not necessarily one that was evidently vital to our project, or something that showcased something uniquely “Africa”, but it was important all the same for reasons that go far beyond that. It helped us better understand who we are, and who everyone on this trip with us is, and that kind of knowledge is irreplaceable.
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Scene IV: WaSH-UP Workshop
Backstory:
This scene takes place back at the lodge and is the first of weekly meetings between both Langrug WaSH Teams, both advisors, and representatives from CORC. It is designed to encourage cooperation and communication between the WPI projects and the sponsor, CORC. Weekly meetings will help ensure that both parties are on track for success and also on the same page.
Cast of Characters:
WPI WaSH-UP Business Operations team, WPI WaSH-UP Services team, WPI Project Advisors, Sizwe Mxobo, Adi Kumar
Setting:
St. John’s Waterfront Lodge
Scene:
After some minor complications in determining a good place to meet, all of the characters listed above met in the lounge of St. John’s Lodge. In a meeting between CORC representatives and WPI project members, we discussed all of the motives for our projects and the difficulties that we may encounter along the way. This two-hour meeting was very productive and the collaboration with CORC helped clear up the confusion about everyone’s role within our projects.
Reflection and Learning:
There is still a great deal to consider in regards to funding options and how much each individual party will contribute moving forward. The group did agree on a process for how to be successful in creating a WaSH facility and making it sustainable. Both groups will work together and with other key personnel (CORC and community) to establish a business model so that our project can be replicated in similar informal settlements. It was an unstated agreement within the room that our projects would be considered successful if they remain sustainable but the ultimate goal is to be able to carry on this model to other informal settlements and create a sustainable network that will operate under CORC and others.