Recycling to survive...

When one is forced to grown up on the streets, its obvious that you will have to have a plan of action for your survival.

He sleeps in the bushes and manages to stay safe, fed, clothed and clean. We spent a day with 'rasta' and he showed us how he makes an honest living...

He walks the streets collecting bottles, cans and any other recyclable material...

After a long day of collecting and gathering, he goes to Kuilsriver waste recycling.

He offloads.

Here he sorts his bottles, breaking them into pieces.

Bottles will only be accepted in this crushed, broken form.

The boroken pieces of bottles are weighed...

All the bottles already weighed, are thrown into these metal containers.

He collects his money.

Thank you Siki Nene for the photographs...

Skin deep!

It is definitely nothing new for countless numbers of black women in and outside of africa to want to have light skin tones.

And they go to great lengths to get it... 

 It is no secret that the history of black people in the world has contributed a great deal to this desire to be a light skinned woman.

"The lighter your skin, and smoother your hair, the better you are"- This is directly linked to the idea that beauty, success and class are what is projected when one possesses a light skin and straight hair.

I, personally have nothing against one wanting to look desirable or attractive, in whatever sense that may be for them. However, my preference is to keep my skin the colour that it is and for my hair to remain either an afro or dreaded in locks.
It is concerning though when one starts to research what goes into these skin lightening products...

Dangerous substances that could cause kidney failure, cancer and high blood pressure and even DEATH are what many women around the world applying on their faces. Doing this, in the name of the 'beauty' of being a light skinned woman.

These substances are hydroquinone, mercury compounds and topical steroids. These are the substances used in many of the skin lightening creams. Despite this, women are still willing to risk their lives a lighter skin tone...

 

Beauty can only be defined by how you feel about yourself inside first and only then will that which you feel translate outwardly to the world and you will be perceived the way you want...

Mothers need to instill in their girl children a love and acceptance of who they are, regardless of the skin tone they are born with. Fathers in the same sense, need to show their girl children an unconditional love and talk to their children about issues around beauty. When children grow up in a home that embraces who they are, they go out in the world knowing that it is ok to be you and that skin has nothing to do with beauty.

WHO YOU ARE IS WHO YOU ARE  MEANT TO BE, NOT WHAT MEDIA OR SOCIETY TELLS YOU TO BE IN ORDER TO BE BEAUTIFUL...

Design Indaba Expo 2013

When creativity in its abundance is exhibited under one roof and creatives from all walks of life get together, you have an explosion of inspiration, networking and are left with every fibre of your body ready to put all this to good use.

Such, was the experience for me when I attended the Design Indaba.

Attending the design expo for the first time this year, I was impressed by the number of school learners in their uniforms in attendance but wished that schools from the townships could also be more exposed to these events. Design is so inclusive and such a wide and open industry and young people would befit from it a great deal.

The expo had everything one could imagine a expo like this would have and more...

Fashion shows and clothing on display, decor, jewellery, historical designs, art, bags and plenty of live entertainment and food!

Here are some photographs...