Rav's exciting week

The first week of internships have ended! I'm already helping out with different protests and rallies, trying to learn as much as I can. Right2Know is the NGO that I am placed at, and it serves to protect the right to information and push for government transparency and accountability. The "right to know / have access to information" is tied in almost every single social, economic, political, and civil human rights violation, here in South Africa. For example, I've already had the experience working with different organization to end the trillion rand secret Nuclear Deal, working with street people to advocate for their rights as human beings, and working with small projects, like giving LGBT workshops to the Cape Town youth. I look forward to learn and grow from these experiences. I've also learned how the right to access information is deterred by the high cost cell phone data plans here in Cape Town, where millions of people in the townships are not active in social justice work or for the protection of their rights, because of limited access, and no means of transportation to the city. My first three R2K protests are this week, during the week of the State of the Nation Address (SONA), which is super exciting to just jump into the activist work here.

Besides my internship, I've been exploring all throughout Cape Town. I've met some great locals, eaten the most delicious food, and learned about the history here just by walking around. I am definitely an adventurer, so I'm itching to hike up Table Mountain already. I cannot wait to meet more people, to have more unforgettable memories. Cape Town is beginning to feel like home, but I'm starting to miss my friends and family back home. I look forward to seeing my parents in a couple of months!