We mention the word “township” alot because that’s primarily the type of community we focus on. But often we get questions like “Ummm… What exactly is a township?” Good question! A township is an official community of an often underdeveloped urban area. They are densely populated. Homes or shacks tend to be poorer and made of corrugated iron and various scrap materials. More concrete homes are emerging. It is uncommon for white people to live there due to a complicated history of apartheid or “separateness”. In fact, in some of the communities we work in, we are the first white people to have ever stayed the night! The cultural makeup varies from township to township. They are vibrant places of music, food, and children everywhere. A vast majority of South Africans live in townships. They are key to reaching the nation. Most of all, no township is a community that can fully be understood in a snapshot!
