Two weeks ago, a young man from Bhekulwandle, whom I’d never met, came to the Seed of Hope Centre asking to see me. His name is Melusi. He came into my office, and within the first minute asked me to give him a bible. What would you do?
I engaged him in conversation about himself – where he lives, what he does, what he hopes to do. He was a great talker. He spoke a lot about wanting to help the community – to do everything he could to help get the community on its feet and meeting its own needs.
Peppered throughout came additional requests: did I have a job for him? Could I get him some water to drink? Did I have a smoke? Something he could eat? I called him on it. I told him that, since the time he came through my door, he hasn’t stopped asking me for things.
The hands begging mindset IS holding people back in Bhekulwandle. I didn’t want to give him anything, just to be sure I wasn’t reinforcing this thinking in him.
But I liked him, and I looked for stuff in him I could work with. I saw plenty. After refusing all his requests, he came back to the issue of the bible. If he could just get his hands on a bible, he said, he would read it every day and strive to live by it. What would you do?
I asked him if he’d be willing to meet with me regularly to learn how to apply what he read. He eagerly agreed. We set a day and time (it was the end of the day when he came), and I gave him a bible on condition that he met me for that one appointment. He left happy, and I felt good that I’d managed to give him only a bible.
He didn’t show.
How much harm could a bible do, though? I’m praying he actually reads it but honestly, I’m sorry I gave him that bible. The handout mentality has to be broken.
I’ve said before that the prevailing mindset in Bhekulwandle is being a victim – victim to circumstance, victim to the legacy of apartheid, victim to an unfaithful spouse, victim to the neighbourhood criminals and gangs. The biggest problem with that mindset is that it immobilizes. If I’m just a victim, then I’m powerless to affect my situation.
And so people become more victimized. To fear, poverty, disease, thugs, etc.
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I’ve said before that the nature of community development is about changing prevailing belief. If people believe that something can be done about something causing grief, they tend to do it. If people believe they are empowered children of God, made to bear His image and reflect His glory, they tend to act like it. But if they believe they’re powerless victims of circumstances and are at the mercy of their dead ancestors, they’ll act like that too.
And ask for handouts, even when they’re not in crisis.
Bhekulwandle is stuck in a mindset. And yet, the community will come together in powerful ways when they want to. We saw it last year April, when the community came together to pray for peace. We’ve seen it on heritage days, when the youth come together to celebrate the history and culture of the Zulu nation. And we saw it just last week on Human Rights Day. The community gathered under the banner, “YOUTH MARCH. No to child abuse. No to Drugs. No to violence in schools and the community. Down with Wunga.”
When the community comes together they get a taste of the ‘mobilized community’ mindset. The community hall on Human Rights Day 2013 was bursting with people of all ages: school children, youth, parents, and leaders. A showcase of talent was put on with unbelievable singing and dancing. Food was provided for all the kids. There were resources applied to this event. Where did those resources come from? What if those resources were also applied by the community to developing an action plan addressing poverty, poor schooling, sexual abuse, violent crime and teen pregnancy?
A special highlight of the Human Rights Day was that two of Seed of Hope’s Live Out Loud grads from 2011 were involved in planning the day: Xolani and “Boss.” Both have graduated with their High School Matric and are finding it difficult to pursue further educational or career options. Yet they are not sitting back with the expectation that others will do it for them. They are participating in a youth committee to bring about change in their community. Wow! These are the leaders of our future.
My personal vision statement is “to be a man after God’s own heart, empowered by the Holy Spirit to guide people living in poverty to realize their full God-given potential as children of God.” When people realize who they really are, and what God has actually given, everything changes. We pray that Melusi would come to see the amazing potential God has built in him and that he would live that full potential for God’s glory. We also pray for our amazing Live Out Loud youth, Xolani and Boss, that God would guide their steps and provide ways for them to get further education and pursue a career that impacts South Africa. We are full of expectation for what their future holds!
DW
(Click on photo to enlarge)
