NewsHour Extra covers the conference with Global Kids and Manhattan Neighborhood Network

Video from
Durban

Diaries from Durban

Diaries from Durban
Annie V.
Global Kids

Today was maybe the most enlightening day I have ever had. I start to think of school and how they are always trying to shove knowledge into your head (things that you will need) but they never show you the "behind the scenes" footage like this.

Apartheid was abolished from South Africa in 1991 (a short while back) but traces still remain.

Today we went on a Tekweni (Zulu for Durban) Tour. The trip was supposed to start at the herb market, but we stopped first to watch a street performance. It was a beautiful sight to see.

Four men performed an African dance. We headed to the Herb Market. This is the place where the Sangoma (spiritual healers) would shop. It was interesting. I found the location to be unpleasant. We went to a mosque (our second stop). I asked questions about the Muslim faith and it made me want to learn more about it.

Surfs Up!: We went to a beach. It was a beautiful beach in Durban. We stayed there for awhile. Then we went to the flea market. We were thirsty so we grabbed drinks. Then we started looking around the flea market. I bought a safari hat. I have to introduce you to my friend Mboso. He was a great tour guide around the townships (projects).

When I think about the state in which the townships were like with their shack-like homes, I think of the privileged life I have in New York City. It made me depressed because there is no electricity, no sewage, and no one to pick up the trash. For the nearest hospital, one has to walk 6 km.

We took a long walk around the townships. Mboso taught us how to say hello in Zulu (Sawubona, pronounced sa-u-bona). People here in South Africa are really friendly. When Mbosa taught us how to say hello in Zulu, we passed a group of people without saying hello. He was disappointed in us because we did not put a smile on the people's faces. From then on, all
we did was say sawubona.

We ate in a shabeen in the township (corn meal, onions, tomatoes and beans). It was great. We ate with our fingers. Afterwards, in the shabeen, we had a singing and dance performance from a group of Sangoma students. Barry (our chaperon) joined them and they considered him to be their brothers.

Later, we attended the opening ceremonies of the Youth
Summit. I was disappointed to find that there were older people at the Youth Summit. There were people in their 40s and this youth conference is for people under 30 (U.N. considers youth to be 30 and under). I was happy because I tend to be nervous around the younger crowd; I think it is because the younger crowd judges you based on appearances.

This whole day was filled with experiences that I will never forget.