Big Day in South Africa

Back on the patio to get an Internet connection. This space has become our official Pearson Foundation office in Joburg. Check out Shutterfly and see for yourself! (Also, I added the picture of Andy's spider bite to his blog below...scroll down to check it out. That must have been one honkin' big spider. Glad my room was twelve doors down.)

Had a great and emotional day yesterday, as you've read from the others. I'm glad to get some different perspectives up on the blog. The one thing we all agree on is that these girls, who have seen some of the worst horrors imaginable, are so strong and have dreams for the future. It makes me think very hard about some of the complaints I hear from students stateside...but enough on that.

We're off to the humongous Mandela mall this morning to get some computer speakers that will work in South Africa. Today we will finish filming ten girls. We got through 20 yesterday! It was a ton of work, and we had a few break-downs, but it is so rewarding. I think that one of the hardest things I've had to do in 15 years of working in film happened yesterday. One of our girls, who was describing having been raped by her mother's boyfriends, who had ended up on the streets, and who has the most infectious smile in Africa, broke down when she was describing the rapes. We comforted her, then I spent some time helping her get to a place where she could (and this was the hardest part), film it again. I offered her the option to not do it, but she said, "No. I must. I know there are other girls who have gone through this and think they are alone. If even one girl watches this in the Sara program in schools and then feels like she is not alone, it will be worth it. Let's film it again." We did. I stood behind Gabriel, and as she was speaking I had to rest my head against his shoulder to stay standing. I try so hard to be professional, but I cried as Gabriel kept going. When she was finished, she gave me a big hug and Mary-Clare and I just stood with her for a while. As she walked back to the room, it was all I could do to stay put and not follow her. We had to start filming the next girl (who spoke about waking up in the orphanage at eight years old, not knowing how she got there, and not seeing her parents since). The Sara program is profound, and I can't wait for you to see these girls' films.

We have a big Gala event tonight with some very important people and press. Fatima (Pearson Education Africa) and I will present. I'll show Lisa Ling's intro to the girls, the films of the SOS orphans in Botswana, then talk about the Foundation and what we're doing in Africa. Mary-Clare and Bernita are giving Andy, Jaime, Gabriel, and me gifts of Mandela shirts to wear tonight! So, look for photos tomorrow of us in our African finery.

Tomorrow morning we'll travel through Joburg with our wonderful driver Martin to the SOS orphanage to see where many of our students live.

More tomorrow.

Erik