Nursery school in KaNyamazane

After dropping two carpets in one of the nursery schools in KaNyamazane, which we yet again got from the Emnotweni Hotel, Jan and I were granted another insight in everyday problems which occur in nearly every township. But at the same time we were shown a method of resolution. To compensate the problem of having too little money the school is producing and selling bead work in a variety of patterns and forms, whether you want a tie, a scarf or a key chain with the flag of South Africa. The possibilities are nearly limitless, although I have to ask myself if the tie is ever going to be sold. The profit is then spent on food, game and school material as well as on colorful designs and pictures, which are meant to pep up the dull grey walls. After we were led into the back rooms of the nursery school, we were shown the very latest source of income. To begin with the headmistress buys shredded pieces of bed linen in all sorts of patterns and in big quantities. These are then, according to pattern, sorted by full-time supported handicapped persons and seamed together forming high-quality pillows or new bed linen. The proceeds pay for the material, some goes into the nursery school and the rest is for the pillow producer him- or herself. I was really surprised when I, after seeing the enormous bags crammed with shredded pieces of bed linen, held the final pillow, which I must say looked just as new bought, in my own hands. Another special event I happened to be part of just occurred shortly before we left. When I, forearmed with a camera, began photographing the little children, which were put into blue and pink potato sacks, I suddenly became the center of a group of little punks eager for knowledge. Every picture I took had to be shown to everyone instantly and little hands covered me almost completely. Virtually cut off from the outer world I was asked what my name was. To top it all off I was asked that question in SiSwati, a language which I do not possess yet. But I got lucky and I was able to make contact with an interpreter and exchanged a couple of phrases with my new friends. To my regret, I was pulled out of this wondrous experience just as fast as I have been trundling into it, because we already had to leave. Wow, how exciting was that.