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Bed & Breakfasts in South Africa
"Before I know it, I’m sipping hot tea and gulping down Margret’s delicious spaghetti and pilchards..."
By Debbie Sprowson
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The National Arts Festival in South Africa happens once a year in the little town of Grahamstown. But Grahamstown, like many other urban areas in South Africa, still bares the marks of apartheid in its structure. The poorer areas, known as townships, rarely see any of the festival’s wealth. "Kwam-e-Makana" is one initiative trying to address this problem, and aims to spread the festival wealth by helping township people open Bed & Breakfasts as a form of economic development. Youth Radio contributor Debbie Sprowson reflects on her visit to Grahamstown and how she thinks this program is helping the community.
It’s a cold evening at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, and I’ve just booked myself into a bed and breakfast (B&B). But the one I chose is not an ordinary B&B, it’s part of the "Kwam-e-Makana" project, which aims at to spread some of the festivals throughout the community. The project has now given 40 home-owners in the Joza township an opportunity to open up their own B&B’s. Right now, I’m boarding the KWAM taxi which will take me to my new home for the evening, and with me are three friendly guys who call themselves cadets.
CADET 1 (on tape)
By the way Debbie, this is my director...and George...
DEBBIE
We are traveling down a dusty street with many little square houses. But the place we have just stopped at looks particularly inviting. Two of its walls are bright orange while the other two are face brick. As I walk across the small garden and onto the porch I am greeted with a soft hand-shake and a broad smile from my host.
MARGRET (on tape)
Molwenni...I’m Margret...
Debbie: Molo Margret. Thank you for having me...
DEBBIE
Mama Margret is short and over her round stomach is a white apron. She has wrapped two scarves around her head - one black and the other bright pink and green. She leads me into her dining room and I head straight for one of the couches next to the oil heater. Before I know it, I’m sipping hot tea and gulping down Margret’s delicious spaghetti and pilchards.
My bedroom is cozy with a small rug on its concrete floor. I get into the surprisingly comfortable bed and wrap myself in the four blankets that Margret has given me. She has even left a hot water bottle, just in case.
I’ve just woken up and Margret is bringing me what she calls my shower. I simply step out of bed and into the red oval tub half filled with hot steaming water.
To be honest, it does feel kind of weird sitting cross legged in the middle of my room half submerged in water. It feels and sounds like another world here...
But hey, it’s an experience. And Margret is preparing one hell of a breakfast to look forward to! Besides the bacon, eggs, sausages, tomatoes and salad, there are the sweeter delicacies that take up most of Margret’s time.
MARGRET (on tape)
We wake up early in the morning, baking muffin. Fet cook and after guest is gone we want to sleep a little bit.
DEBBIE
But preparing for her guests are the least of Margret’s worries. For her it’s more important to be making money then getting her sleep.
MARGRET (on tape)
Our guests help us, they pay 150 rand per day! First things my daughters school fees and money stay in the bank and buy food and fixing my house, this year I want to finish my ceiling and plumbing with the festival money.
DEBBIE
Margret also gives a portion of her money to her daughter as well as another lady who helps with the cooking and cleaning. And of course, she needs to pay the plumber who will connect her bath and her geyser. So it seems that the project is reaching its aims of poverty alleviation and creating job. Back on the taxi another cadet tells me how he sees his job.
CADET 2 (on tape)
For us as the cadets we doing a flexible job to make people fall in love with Grahamstown, and for now "Kwam" is doing a great job. I’m trying to say thanks to who ever came up with the idea.
DEBBIE
It’s been an amazing experience, one definitely worth repeating. And all the better if it’s helping ensure that festival time is one that can benefit the whole of Grahamstown.
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