There is always a reason why I travel to a particular country. And it is always for another reason than I think. Usually during my stay I find out the reason.

I already stayed for nearly two weeks in South Africa when I visited my friend Margot in Paarl. Margot indicated that she had to go to a meeting on Saturday morning at a Township, the Amstelhof. The meeting was organized by the Organization of this Township, called Amharic Community Development. Margot supports the development of, in particular, the children and collects a lot of money from The Netherlands. She asked me if I was interested to come along. I was definitely interested in the meeting, especially in their plans for the future and how they have spent the money. Christopher Samuels, one of the founders, is the major driving force behind the Organization Amharic, named after his daughter. In Amstelhof we were warmly welcomed by Dephi a wise woman of 74 years who is part of this organization. We went to the library where the meeting took place. Next to Chris and Dephi 5 other members, young and old, joined the meeting. Chris started to explain how the money collected by Margot was spent. Margot once again told the story for the new members how she, 7 years ago, was inspired by Chris’ passion and enthusiasm. I loved how Margot explained how she collected the money by organizing wine tastings. For me it became even more interesting when I heard Chris telling about the future plans for this community. He explained his plans exactly how I see the future. I was genuinely surprised how this organization saw the new world. As Chris said: ‘We do not feed the children with money '. They do not want to copy the Western way. They understand that contact with nature is of great importance. They do not speak about The Apartheid anymore in spite of the fact that the older generations still bear the scars of it. They forgive and understand that we all breathe the same air and that we can create another better world with each other. They know that they need the communities in which they have always lived. They understand that this way of living is necessary for the transfer of knowledge and that young and old have to grow up with each other. They see that it is important for the children to find the solutions not outside themselves but in believing in their inner strength. They live on the oldest continent where human beings have set the first foot on Earth. They realize that the knowledge of the plants and the trees are of major importance. With the knowledge they still have they can grow their own  vegetables and healing plants. Amharic is conscious about how they can change their world and they are an example for the communities around them and to my opinion, an example for the world how you can create another world.

I was so glad to have witnessed those passionate people with their great future plans. Suddenly I realized that the change can be initiated by communities who have nothing to lose and are conscious what is real wealth and that they combine the best of both world. Their world and the Western world. The Maories also do it this way in New Zealand. The Samies in Sweden. The Incas in Peru and the black Africans in South Africa. However, is the change coming from the indigenous population?