Stepping Stones for Africa

In this series of posts I would like to honour the individuals on the photos we used in the header of this site. I would like to give you some background on the photo and - as far as my knowledge goes - the persons themselves. All photos were taken by Remco Kalf.

Pumla and Busi, Kurland, South Africa

This is Pumla, and her daughter Busi. They live in a little shack in The Crags, also called Kurland, a township near Plettenberg Bay in South Africa.

I met Pumla when she was the housekeeper at the volunteering place I visited in august 2004, “Willing Workers in South Africa” (WWISA). I was told that Pumla left Wwisa early 2005, to take up a position as a Community Development Officer in training with the Bitou Municipality. She’s based in Kurland but has been to Cape Town and George for training input and, according to Wwisa, was doing exceptionally well. Busi visits the Crags Primary School and -as far as I know- is supported by Born in Africa.

This photo was taken on August, 6, 2004. It was a rainy day as you can see, and Pumla was worried her plastic roof would leak. The shacks in Kurland are made of wood, cardboard and plastic roofing. The walls on the inside are mostly made of cardboard boxes, newspapers and posters. Most of the shacks have electricity, and with that, sometimes a refridgerator and tv.

For Google Earth users, here is the placemark for Kurland with the Crags Primary School in the top right corner.