The Xhosa culture is extraordinarily beautiful.
Here two Sangoma's are dressed to impress
during their initiation ceremony. 

The day has been non stop, we woke up early to drive to another village to collect grass for our roof, we bought the grass from two ladies who were living without their husbands, they had many children and it was apparent that they were struggling, I am not sure where their husbands were, most likely in Johannesburg or another city, trying to find work. We somehow managed to stuff 2200 bundles of grass into our truck, it took us several trips of course, and also a friend who has a big truck to pick up the bulk of it.

We then returned to Nqiningana and spent the afternoon and evening at a very special cultural celebration to introduce new Sangomas (Witch Doctors) to the village. This is a very special time for me as well because it gives me a chance to get to know my neighbours a little more. I enjoy these occasions so much because women who are ordinarily busy are instead brought together to spend time together.

I love the kids here so much, they are always asking me to take their
picture. Here you can see they are all smiles. 

Tonight a woman sat with me and told me her story. She and her husband once left the village to live in Cape Town, or to be precise, the squatter camp outside of Cape Town which I believe is the second largest slum in Africa behind Kibera in Kenya. After a very long time of not finding work they retreated back to Nqiningana, because at least here they have some dignity. In Cape Town they were crammed into a shack with neighbours all around them, no privacy, too much noise, crime etc. In Nqiningana at least there is peace. This woman was wearing no shoes, she told me that she only has one pair and she only wears them on the rare occasion that she goes to the nearest city, Queenstown. If she wears them in Nqiningana the mud will ruin them and she cannot afford to buy another pair. She, her husband and their 6 young children are really struggling. They survive on R1000 a month, which is about 100 Euro or $125. This amount is of course not even close to being enough to provide food etc. She told me that when the flour and rice run out that she cooks plain corn with tea leaves mixed in it. At least that makes them feel like they have eaten food. After that they do not eat, sadly, this happens often. This woman always smiles, she is so friendly to everyone, but I can see the worry behind that smile, and the stress of not knowing if her children will eat tomorrow. Her children will benefit from the Nqiningana Food Security Project taking place at the school, and she has volunteered to help us to tend to the garden.

I think that it is very important that we help this village by bringing job opportunities here, so that families like this do not have to move to squatter camps with terrible conditions, and so that they have the income needed to buy food and other essentials, like medicine. I looked my friend in the eyes and promised her that I would do everything in my power to help her. And through that promise I turn to you, to help me to help women, men and children just like her who are struggling. Together we can help families to become self sufficient and find the dignity that they have been searching for.

Speaking of smiles, this is one of my neighbours, she is an amazing woman.
Hard working, loving mother and a kind friend. 

The ladies always sit to one side, and the men to another side.
The sun sets on a traditional house while the grandmothers
bask in the last warm moments.