If you have landed here without viewing any of the previous days, you may want to start at South Africa 2023 Day 1 and view your way up to Day 7. Today we have so much on our schedule that this blog will be divided into two parts. We are headed back to Soweto to visit a high school, the Hector Peterson Memorial, the Apartheid Museum and the Lesedi Cultural Village. Now for Part I.
This is Mahesh - our handsome bus driver - his words. He will be our driver for the duration of our time in South Africa.
In this short video, Cindi - our tour guide, is providing information on the mass shooting which resulted in the creation of Human Rights Day.
Come along on our ride back to Soweto to visit Emadwaleni High School. As previously mentioned, Soweto is a township which emanated from Black people being settled far away from the city during the gold rush era. Cindi is giving us a history lesson as we are enjoying this scenic ride.
Here are some pictures of views seen along the way.
In this short video, Cindi is pointing out First National Bank (FNB) Stadium - the largest stadium in South Africa and also introducing the topic of gold mines. Enjoy the ride.
Four bus-loads deep headed to a Soweto school to drop off donations for children.
Random pictures taken on the way to our destination.
This is a very short video and Cindi is talking about the history of the hostels seen on the right side of the bus.
We have arrived at our destination.
Welcome to Emadwaleni High School.
These pictures were taken as we were walking to the presentation site. Once we got there we had a chance to look around and chat while we waited for the children to arrive. The children had the day off, yet some were willing to come and greet us.
Ja'Vonne addressing travel club members as the children begin to arrive.
This video shows the presentation of school supplies to the school's representatives and the students. Ja'Vonne also reveals that we raised enough for 75 complete uniforms, including socks and shoes.
The welcome from school officials.
The welcome from a ward councilperson.
In this video, we are near the conclusion of our program and you will see some of the travel club members taking additional school supplies to the stage.
In this video, the children were called on stage. Again, we were so honored that these children chose to come to school to greet us on their day off.
We are at the end of the program. In this video, Ja'Vonne is speaking and thanking travel club members for our participation. An added bonus is hearing the children sing.
School representatives thanking MBTC members as we say goodbye.
More pictures from the school visit.
Classroom #2 at Emadwaleni High School.
Guard station near the entrance gate.
Gene waiting near guard station to direct us out of the gate.
This home was located across from the school.
The beautiful Morell from Advantage International LLC.
Cindi (tour guide) and Mihesh (bus driver).
They wanted me to jump in the picture.
A close up view of Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
We left the school and our next stop was at the Hector Peterson Memorial.
Hector Peterson Memorial
On the morning of Wednesday, June 16, 1976, students in Soweto assembled on school grounds before beginning their march to Orlando Stadium where a protest against Africans was to be held. On the way, schoolboy Hector Peterson joined a group of several thousand students.
After a brief standoff, police opened fire and the photograph of a dying Hector Peterson, cradled in the arms of a fellow student with his terrified sister running beside them, flashed around the world. This image, taken by news photographer Sam Nzima, became a symbol of the resistance against apartheid. Today, June 16 is commemorated as Youth Day in South Africa.
In this video, you will hear more of why the Hector Peterson Memorial was created.
Pictures taken at the Memorial.
Video showing the words at the bottom of the fountain.
In this video, listen to our tour guide, Cindi, giving us additional information regarding Hector Peterson's sister and the man who was holding Hector in the picture. We also inquired about the people pulling trolleys on the expressway.
This is the outside of the First National Bank Stadium.
I hope you enjoyed Day 7, Part I - Return to Soweto. Just a reminder that each day builds upon the prior days and blogs so if you haven't read South Africa 2023 - Sandton Sun Day 6; South Africa 2023 - Johannesburg - Day 5, Part I or Mandela House - Day 5, Part II; or Cape Town Day 4, Part I and Part II; Day 3, Part I and Part II; Day 2, Part I and Part II; or Day 1 yet, you may do so here. https://www.edeeonthego.com/link-tree
If you are new to www.edeeonthego.com, I hope you will go back and view other blogs you have missed. If you subscribe to the site - and I hope you do, you will automatically be notified when new blogs are posted.
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Stay tuned for South Africa 2023 - Return to Soweto, Day 7, Part II. In this blog, we will visit the Apartheid Museum and the Lesedi Cultural Village.
Until our next time......