It’s certainly been a whirlwind tour thus far at the informal Wallacedene settlement in Cape Town, South Africa...

The settlement is located near the heart of picturesque wine country but the shanty village of Wallacedene is far from the glowing beauty of its close neighbors. When you enter the community of Wallacedene the poverty is immediately apparent. Stray, malnourished dogs wander the streets in search of food while children play amongst the rubbish that is littered throughout the streets.

It’s these conditions that led to the topic of our digital story, “Environmental Hazards,” which highlights the impact pollution is having on the health of the children in the Wallacedene settlement.

Mothusi Mokhalimetso, one of the brightest learners at the school, was a victim of the squalid way of life in his community, contracting and almost dying from tuberculosis (“TB”). TB is a common and often deadly infectious disease that usually attacks the lungs, and typical symptoms include chronic coughing with blood tinged mucus, fever, night sweats and weight loss. The disease is spread through the air and due to the close living proximity of residents in these shanty villages, sufferers are often treated as outcasts.

One of the lucky few to survive, Mothusi is now sharing his story as part of the Bridges To Understanding workshop experience. Having suffered from the disease for a long period of time, he was an outcast, but having gotten over the disease, has now been accepted back into the community.

Unfortunately, TB is not the only killer in the Wallacedene settlement, around 60% of people in the settlement have AIDS, some of which even contracting it from birth.

Luthando Home Care Centre takes in HIV infected and affected, orphans and toddlers that are vulnerable to this disease. They provide them with food, shelter and access to social grants, particularly for those orphans who have no family to care for them.

The children are incredibly affectionate, they want to cuddle you, be held close, climb all over you and play with your camera equipment. They are so little and cute, but in the back of your mind, you know this is the case because many have grown up malnourished and as a result, their growth has been stunted.

In spite of the struggles, in spite of the disease, the dirty water and lack of sewerage and sanitation, the people in the settlement of Wallacedene remain upbeat. Their song and culture is what seems to keep them going, and they take each day as it comes.

c