Saturday, August 24, Hillcrest AIDS Center and Phansi Museum

We went by bus to the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, (hill aids.org.za/). Which is a multifaceted and inspiring or inject that addresses the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in practical, uplifting and holistic ways. There is also beaded jewelry for sale which is produced by people the center is helping. They have developed many money making projects to help fund their project. In addition to the beading is a plant nursery which sells a large variety of potted plants to people in the area.

This tree is outside the aids center. It is covered with crochet squares


Their nursery is on site. It is maintained by volunteers


This is a group of tenth graders from a local high school. They we at the aids center on a Saturday to find out how they could serve as volunteers. They really want to come to America. It seems to come from television.


This girl is now my friend


This first video is a rap done by a tenth grade boy. We asked them if they did rap and this was his response. He said that a friend of his wrote it. I had to take the videos out because I couldn't log into my utube because I forgot my password. They sent me a code in a text, but as my phone hasn't worked since I got here, I didn't get it.

We asked the teens if they would sing and they promptly had a quick meeting and and sang several songs.

After the aids center we went to the Phansi Museum in a restored
Victorian National monument. We had a guided tour from a woman who was both Swasi and Zulu. She was fantastic. As she told us stories and history by showing us different costumes, utensils or furniture she actually acted out the information. She had amazing eye contact.




What a woman


This is an African story board. The stories are burned into wood


Zulu necklaces


Zulu shield. Remember them from the Zulu war movies?


We saw many signs like this. IDs are required so it makes voting hard.


This was scrawled on the bathroom wall where we had lunch


Another social issue being addressed


This is Granmolly at lunch. She was on this trio with three if her nieces. They we a great group. The girls mother, granmollys sister, had been on this trip previously and died last year. Granmolly said the girls change her. She is Granmolly because one of the sisters is also named Molly


The afternoon was free for us to get packed up. Most of the group would go home tomorrow. 5 of unprepared to fly to Cape Town


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Location:Durban, SA