Amanda Ramcharitar Yoga

Having just moved to South Africa and been exposed to a myriad of life only living in Africa can expose.  I come to find myself in a world that is deeply entrenched in old world clamoring for the new, influenced by many different idea’s, practices, mission’s on people and cultures.  I think when thinking of Africa an image of poverty, aid, beauty, animals & mystery arises in all of our minds, and like India, this country is so vast and full of understanding, no one can really comprehend the immensity of it.

Interestingly being a Canadian in this land i’ve mostly been humbled by the level of sincerity, manner’s and respect most African’s have for one another as well as for outsider’s, and its not that flippant, forgotten and remembered thank you, its the Thank you, look you in the eye and connect, Thank you.  The social mannerism’s are not placated with stuff, there is not stuff to get in the way of how one really treat’s another, with respect and dignity, action really does take president over words in this land.

However this land is increasingly on the rise for Western influence of good intention, give a child some shoes, give medical aid, give vaccines, but is this enough? Many African’s have been displaced except for the extreme rural villages that have not moved for eon’s, that many have lost the old way of being close to the land and have found the new way of materialism and accumulation without a history of infrastructure and urban and city planning that is needed for Capitalism to be positive.

The dilemma of this new way brings, waste, increased population, demand on an economy, environment and goods which are not available.  What good intentioned Missions and Projects’s are not bringing enough of is education and long term possibility for the people.  In the last months I’ve heard of many projects being started and left to maintain by local user’s, even Madonna gave 25 million US dollars but was not around to actually faciliate the project and poof! the project disappeared as well as the money.  How can any project or material be given without follow up or nurturing?

Skill transfer is the only key, if anyone is to make a difference in this country it is to come and teach, teach how to make a success of your self while living in a shack, how to start a business, how to use a computer, teach what it really takes to survive in a Capitalistic economy.   Otherwise worldwide pressure needs to be put on to politicians and businesses that are trading with Africa to start creating proper infracture that will support the people’s living standard to live in a healthful way.  Otherwise all good intention’s are not so good in the long run, but maybe look good in writing or in picture’s.