Alexandra

Alexandra is another township, though this time close to Jo-burg. It took about 15 minutes, just two exits on the freeway, to get there from where I am staying. Thursday evening I went to a Marimba concert in a nice part of town and we passed right along side Alexandra to get there. They’ve only received electricity in the past 10 years, in spite of being part of Jo-burg proper.

The church supports Spring of Education Primary School in Alexandra. One parks along the street and walks up a long driveway about 25 meters before coming to a property not larger than 50 ft by 30 ft. The largest building of the property was built with the finances of the church and J.P. Morgan. It is a classroom for about 50 kids age 3 to 7, and stands about 20 ft by 20 ft. They sit on the floor, which is nice because the building is so new, and learn their primary school lessons. There is a small kitchen from which all are fed two meals a day. Finally, there is a small one room building in which infants are cared for. Here a woman watched three babies on a bed, one in her arms she was feeding, one in a box because there was no room on the bed, and one had wandered into the main classroom.

Kate runs the school and teaches the children, who are envied at the next level. Those students who can afford to go on in their education (about 40 of the 50 are currently paying fees at Spring of Education) tend to be highly successful in other schools.

Here's the classroom, preparing to erupt because the silly white guy came in with a camera. I recorded a video, but will not upload it because of the size.


The kitchen from which all 50 students and four workers eat twice a day.


The nursery area with the infants. My back was to the wall when I took this picture.


Kate with Cathy before we walked back to the car. To the left is the combined kitchen and restroom, to the right is the nursery area, and in the back is the classroom. You can see how tightly packed it all is.