Se7en Build A Township and a GiveAway…

We seem to have had a week of South African posts. We had a South African braai, reviewed a new South African cookbook and we had a typically South African Monday Munchie. So it seems only fitting that we did a South African art project. Se7en created a township:

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Townships in South Africa are huge sprawling shanty towns closely packed with corrugated iron shacks. They can be an extremely difficult environment to live in. Apart from overcrowding and the associated problems, many people are without access to clean water and electricity and many homes are not at all weatherproof. Because the shacks are made from materials that are found lying around every single shack is unique.

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Turns out this post is #600 so I have a little GiveAway for you: It is a picture book called: “Shacks, Shelters and Shanty Towns in South Africa.” If you would like to win this little book just comment on this post before the end of next Friday (14 November 2009) and we will randomly choose a winner. Our GiveAways are open to everyone: If you have won a GiveAway before never fear – enter away. If you live on the far side of the world – enter away. (I won’t respond to your comments as I do on our other posts because I don’t want to be included in our own giveaway.)

So here are our se7en steps to building a township:

Step 1: We gathered some cards and paper.

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Step 2: We cut and glued and made little shacks.

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Step 3: Millions and billions of little shacks:

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Within a sprawling township it is often hard to get to a local store for anything and so arose the need for local SPAZA Shops. A SPAZA is a shop, usually within someone’s home, were you can buy a few basic products.

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Step 4: Back to the project: Our township needed some people. We made some styrofoam stamps:

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Step 5: We gathered lots of advertisement fillers from the newspaper. We did a lot of snipping out of local products.

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Step 6: And more cutting and sticking…

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Step 7: We stuck some more and embellished a whole lot more.

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And we were done…

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That’s it – Have a Great Weekend! And don’t forget to leave a comment!!!

30 Replies to “Se7en Build A Township and a GiveAway…”

  1. Cool project! And we’d love to win the book, it would go well with our Geography studies this year. And are we supposed to send postcards back to you, if we signed up for them?

  2. I have never commented before, but I love all your ideas for kids projects, and I love the South African touch you add to everything. And I would love a photo book!

  3. I love the way that art related to townships and poorer folk in our country is coming into its own now. The photo book looks great. Count me in

  4. I ditto what they said — you truly are amazing and I admire you and your accomplishments from Mississippi in USA!

  5. where are you going to store/display/hang your gorgeous project? Always my problem with artwork! That is such a fun and original idea~ the result is really great!

  6. Seven’s Spazas are too stunning for words. Laid out they look exactly like a township. Very well done guys.
    And yes it would be great to own this wonderful looking book. Well worth a try.

  7. Love the township pics! Well done, kids! I’ve been eyeing this book for some time in several different shops. Looks beautiful!

  8. Hey! We got the post-card you specifically photographed here: the one that says “veterinarian” on the top. And the kids were tickled pink and said “how did they know, Mommy?” because both me and their Dad are qualified vets (although I’m full-time Mom now). SO: How DID you know??
    Thank you to the 7+1 SPAZA shop post-card factory. You made our day!
    (Oh, and your return post-card will be making its way to you shortly)

  9. Hi A, You tell those sweet kids of yours I am a mom so I have eyes in the back of my head. Don’t they know mom’s know everything!!! Actually pure fluke!!! And so funny!!! You all take care!!!

  10. Wonderful idea to raise the kids’ awareness of others. I’d love to do a similar project with my son when he is old enough. I want him to be aware of his heritage and the sad side of it as well as the lovely things. I hope he will grow in a sense of his responsibility to be generous to those who have less than us, especially those our people group has oppressed in the past.

  11. Hi S, Sadly those people in our country who have been oppressed in the past continue to be oppressed by poverty. We don’t have to travel at all to be in the heart of a vast township. I am hoping that my children can’t help but grow up with a well established social conscience. Thanks so much for your comment and all the best with your little guy. Have a good week!!!

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