Third day in Cape Town! Finally, I am able to find my way in the city and see the adorable side of the people. It amaze me how being uncomfortable, lost, and fearful can make your whole experienced a cloud; a stormy cloud, in fact. Today, the cloud cleared by midmorning, both physically and metaphorical. After doing some yoga I headed out, determined to let the city take me on a little adventure. Right turn to go toward the pastel pink building. Left turn to see the castle-looking church behind the trees. Then, up this heel. Hmm… what a city edge, industrial-looking street composed of drycleaners, hardware store and locked doors. Keep going, I see something bright pink even higher up. Wait. Lime green, rose, turquoise, purple-ish blue. Is this Murano, Italy or Greece? I was so focused on the buildings that I did not see the grandiose backdrop of this section of town, the Table Mountain, till I sat down at a little “coziest coffee shop in this side of town.” The coffee shop is tucked away behind the butchery, that is next to the restaurant, that is behind the takeaway. Apparently the coffee shop was not even expecting any tourist this early in the morning. The son was still moping the floor and the Mom had to argue with the Dad that, we are open, we are open! I did not even look up till after I order my muesli with yogurt and honey. Cape Town’s Table Mountain is right there staring at me and I did not even notice. Apologies. After 15 minutes I still only have an empty bowl and a spoon in front of me. Then I hear a car pulled up. The Dad and the daughter rushed up into the coffee shop, “we got you the honey!”
After breakfast I continued walking down Bo-Kaap, this part of the city that is decorated with the wonderful colors that match the vibrant energy of the city. Then, there was Monkeybiz. The shop is marked by an un-missable yellow front with red monkey print all over. Monkeybiz is a nonprofit started by artists and help 450 disadvantaged women in Cape Town to create wonderful beadwork, that not only provide the ladies an income, but also beautiful in their own right. Every Friday, like today, there is also a workshop and a HIV clinic upstairs to train and support low-income HIV positive women. A pink and brown beaded giraffe, a blue, silver and yellow beaded cow, and multi-colored table mat that says ”Love People with HIV.” The cheerful color and shelves after shelves of hand-mades shout to me promises and unwavering belief and self-confidence that, “We will not let AIDS beat us down.”
The idea that a non-profit needs to focus on building a bridge instead of ferrying people across the river. The idea that is empowering instead of feeding the thirst. Monkeybiz helps revive the traditional beadwork with an modern aesthetics instead of teaching the locals something new. How wonderful… This is something I need to learn more and bring to Thai Circle… Hopefully, my work at Etafeni that starts on Monday will also be working from the same principle. Isn’t this what Williams has been talking about everyday, sustainability?
www.monkeybiz.co.za
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