White Shelter, chapter II

This photographic work tells about a less known aspect of the current period (and the post-apartheid) in South Africa, where even the whites are victims of various incidents of discrimination; these photographs show a community that receive mainly white women (and a couple of families, including one of "Afrikaaners") who have lost everything, from work to family, to home, after several unfortunate events that highlight the absence of any form of assistance for those people who are 'in trouble' or not anymore able to keep a job, and especially if the skin color is clear. The "shelter" accept a little more than twenty people and is located in the province of Gauteng, the most rich region of South Africa, but with about 40% of the unemployment rate. The whites still represent the wealthy elite, but the number of citizens are struggling to find a stable job is increasing, especially if not in possess of a significant degree. So in this "welcome center", financed and supported by the government, I have met, following the collaboration with the University where I work (aimed to the nutritional improvement for some community), several women who told me their stories, not only related to aspects of work, but, as often happens, related also to family violence or to alcohol and drugs abuse. The community is very small but cozy and clean. Only two families, a black mom with a children, and an Afrikaner family with a baby, have a private room, while the other women housed share a furnished large room, almost elegantly and purple... Time passes very slowly for them, topped by the hope of finding a job or other arrangement before the expiry of six months, maximum period of stay in the shelter. With them few books and some clothes; so for some of them the main activities is represented by the management of the kitchen and preparing food. Sometimes I bring a little of pasta and the recipe to prepare it in the "Italian" way, or some sweet. Not long after I frequented this community, the guests have opened up to me and began to tell their stories and in general to talk about other things, about the new South Africa, even accepting the photographs.