Inspired

Have I mentioned I love my Emerging Enterprises class? Today was our field trip to a Township, which is basically a shanty-town. people literally living in freight containers sharing bathrooms. This Township, Khayelitsha, has over 1M south africans living there. We went there to visit a Bed and Breakfast. I was super confused as to why there would be a B&B in this highly undesirable area. But then I saw. It was extremely colorful and cozy and filled with happiness. The woman who runs this B&B is INCREDIBLE. Her name is Thope. She has won several fellowhips and awards for her work there and is so inspirational to listen to. She just radiates energy and joy.

Her idea to open Kopanong B&B started as she noticed tour buses coming to Khayelitsha and tourists taking photos from within the bus. She started inviting tourists into her home for lunch and eventually opened up her 2 bedroom home into a bed&breakfast. Whats amazing though is how she has extended her business to help her neighbors. She hires people in Khayelitsha to cook, clean, give walking tours, play music etc. As she described it, "We make a cake and each person who helps, gets a slice." Now she sometimes gets huge groups coming who want to stay, so her neighbors have started their own B&B's and they have formed an association so that they can go to the government as a unified group with their issues. Thope is also an Ashoka Fellow. The Ashoka Foundation operates all over the world and gives Venture Capital like grants to social entreprenuers throughout emerging economies. A representative of the Ashoka foundation also came with us to the township and I had the pleasure of riding over with her. Her name is Laela and she is married to the son of Steve Biko, who was the founder of the Black Conciousness Movement in S. Africa and a martyr of the Anti-apartheid movement. He was murdered by police in S. Africa. I knew nothing about him before today. Everyday, I learn so much here and am so inspired by the people I meet. Its amazing.

Some local Models: These little boys litterally ran over when I pulled out my camera. Please take note of the kid in white leaning against the fence. A natural model. Boy squatting with the tan pants - such a ham! He kept striking these poses.