Meet the Students - South Africans

Senegalese Students • American Students

Helen, 15 years old, English Heritage (Lakeside, South Africa)---Helen attends an integrated school. She thinks people are afraid to mix because they don't want to say something embarrassing like "Do Black people get sunburned?" At 15, she has traveled to Europe and the United States and is of English heritage.

Lance, 17 years old, Colored (Hanover Park, South Africa)---Lance lives in Cape Flats– an area claimed by gangs. He is not in a gang because his parents instilled different values, but he has friends that are gang members who deal drugs. He was in the 12th grade and hoped to work with children and provide a positive role model for the kids in his neighborhood during the documentary taping. Lance has matriculated and works for the community-based origination "Come and Play" where he works with young people in his community of Cape Flats.

Thameenah, 15 years old, Malaysian Ancestory (Bookaap, Cape Town)---Thameenah was in a 10th grader and a resident of Bookaap in Cape Town. She can trace her family roots to the 1780s when her ancestors came to Cape Town from Malaysia. She thinks reconciliation may have gone too far---some people are "getting off" when they should be going to prison. Thameenah is now in her last year of high school in Cape Town. She will attend the University of Cape Town where she plans to study accounting.

Marvina, 18 years old, Colored (Primrose Park, South Africa)---Marvina was in the 12th grade during the taping of the documentary. She has Xhosa friends but feels left out when they speak their 'home' language. Marvina is particularly frustrated by the fact that "in the 'New' South Africa people are still afraid to go to certain areas." She now attends Stellenbosch University.

Senegalese Students • American Students