Culture News Blog

HAMPTON Nontokozo Dlamini has been caught up in a whirlwind of activity since arriving here a month ago.

The native of Swaziland said she has been "busy, busy, busy" between public presentations, sight seeing, media interviews and day-to-day life at Hampton High School.

Dlamini, 19, and John Lovett are visiting as part of the Hampton-Piggs Peak Partnership. Lovett is a Canadian living in Piggs Peak who helps coordinate the partnership from the community of about 5,000 people.

The Hampton-Piggs Peak Partnership was formed in 2004. It was created by a group of residents from the two communities to help address issues of HIV/AIDS. Between 40 and 50 per cent of adults in the Swaziland community of Piggs Peak are said to be infected by HIV/AIDS.

Dlamini, the oldest of five children, has seen first hand the kinds of benefits the alliance between the Hampton and Piggs Peak can provide.

She said there are at least 35 children and teenagers going to school daily because their school fees have been covered by the partnership. That simple act can mean all the difference in the lives of the children because it gives them something to do. Usually when children don't attend school they don't do anything else because there aren't any jobs.

The partnership also arranges instruction on gardening and furniture fabrication so people have a way to earn money for themselves.

Dlamini has been surprised and overwhelmed by the entire Canadian cultural experience which began before her feet left Swaziland's soil for her first voyage by plane.

"I didn't believe it at all," she said with a lingering sound of amazement in her soft voice. "I believed it when I had the ticket."

Dlamini has also enjoyed her first game of pool and movie on the big screen during her stay.

Among some of the biggest culture shocks have been the interaction and dating between young teens, something Dlamini said is practically unheard of in her country. The friendly hospitality the recent graduate of Fundukuwela High School has felt from her peers and others have offered and Maritime cuisine are two favourite experiences Dlamini said she will miss the most when she departs for yet another 23-hour trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

When she does return to Africa, Dlamini could be returning to yet another important chapter in her young life. She was the first in her family to graduate from high school in November and soon could be the first to attend university.

Dlamini has applied to the University of Swaziland in the hopes of beginning a journey toward a career in medicine.

"(There are) many sick people in Swaziland but not enough doctors or nurses," she said.

While some might believe Dlamini's desire to heal the sick would be her ticket out of the poverty-stricken country, inside her petite frame beats a compassionate heart that wants to make her community a better place.

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