Staff blog: MY JOURNEY BY MAPANYA

Mapanya, our Project Manager in Langa, has written about his journey to Sweden:

“I want to first highlight that through my experience between Sweden and South Africa there’s a huge difference that I strongly feel both countries should appreciate. And I want to thank Frida and Sofia for making my dream possible, especially Turkish Airlines.

PPG Support in Sweden

I was amazed by the amount of people that follows Project Playground from abroad and the level of respect that they have for us. PPG’s office are based in MNO internationals offices which are one of the Board Members offices in Stockholm this is where three of our staff members are based in a small tiny office, Sofia, Hanna and Lina.

We have people who were never in South Africa that support and believe in our work, this I find strange because it’s a rare humanity that many claim but not live (practise).

Meetings in Sweden

1st 
Meetings are short and brief as everyone are always having meetings after the other. The first meeting it was with Jonas, where we updated him on our growth and development. He was very sincere in his questions and wanted to know the plans for sustainability and growth. He also emphasizes the importance of having our own land so that we can grow further.

2nd
It was an interview with the Media Company (Heroes of Today) we had an interview with them.

3rd
I also had a meeting with the Mayor of Stockholm (President of the City Council) it was a first time in my life that I met the mayor let alone having a meeting with her. She asks very interesting questions about the Project and asks several questions that are structural related.

4th
The Swedish Postcode Lottery
This is where I had an opportunity to meet all the people who are working for the Swedish Postcode foundation and the Swedish Postcode Lottery. Sofia and I had a presentation for the whole members of the foundation. Documentary for Project Playground.

The Swedish People and structure

People are very structure and considerate and always use logic in everything. Life is very simple and everyone is always up to something. Traffic lights are well respected by the pedestrians and drivers as well, everyone seem to abide by the law. People are honest and very open about their feelings and I found women more forward than man and man little take a back step and women and the leadership role.

Crime and Violence

I must highlight that in Stockholm if there’s crime then it was hidden away for me to see. But from my personal point of view people are free of crime on Stockholm you can see from their behaviour and freedom. The first day I saw a woman jogging at night in the dark alone without fear of always looking at the back. This I dream to see in the Ghettos of South Africa one day.

School Visits

I first went in one of the schools in the suburbs of Stockholm, where I had a dialogue with the students from one of the classes. What surprise me about this particular class were the different nationalities from the class, from Lebanese, Ethiopians’ and Somalia’s etc. And they seem not to have a problem and coping very well in a class.
The schools are so different it’s like university, compare our schools theirs I realize that our schools (SA) are similar to our prison infrastructure and it takes away the power of envisage. I also went to visit a school in Uppsala where I met with the students that we hosted in South Africa. The feedback was great and we share our differences and they realize how fortunate they are as the students.

Economy

The economy in Sweden is of the Youth, the schools, environment it’s conducive for the youth to take the future in their hands. There’s a huge possibility in the country, and i have seen several business run by the youth.

Conclude

My journey was an eye opening and we can only achieve what we can if people can focus in solutions than sticking with problems without solution.”