Hello Blogosphere! My name is Robyn Deutsch and I will be your Ikamva Labantu blog voice.

First, let me tell you a bit about myself. I guess that one of my most distinguishing characteristics around here is that I am an American…and more specifically, I am a New Yorker (pronounced New Yaw-kah). After graduating from Emory University with a degree in Political Science and a Fellowship in Community Building and Social Change, I came to South Africa in July of 2008 to study at the University of Cape Town. I had only planned to stay for 5 months, but I just haven’t been able to bring myself to leave!

I began volunteering at Ikamva Labantu in January and was officially hired as part of the staff this July. I am a proud member of the Fundraising and Marketing Department, but have also taken on the responsibilities of starting Ikamva Labantu’s Facebook page, Twitter account and now, our blog. Which reminds me…please become a fan on facebook and follow us on twitter to get the ultimate Ikamva Labantu web experience. Beautiful pictures are already up on our facebook page and more get added every week!

People ask me all the time what it was that brought me to South Africa. The most honest answer I can give is that I wanted to learn.

Personally, I wanted to go somewhere that was different from what I was used to and just immerse myself in its culture. Whether I am having a braai with my friends, visiting a community mama in a township, watching the rugby in a pub (Go Bokke!), or somehow squeezing myself into an already full mini-bus, I embrace Cape Town, and it embraces me right back.

Academically, I have always looked at the struggle against apartheid and been in absolute awe of how much this country was able to change in such a short period of time. I just knew there was something that South Africa could teach me. I was right.

These are the reasons I came. But why have I stayed? Well, my mother asks me that all the time! I can’t really put my finger on it…I just feel at home, at Ikamva Labantu and in Cape Town. It is my hope to share even a little bit of my wonderful experience with you and luckily, Ikamva Labantu has given me this opportunity.

I will share more about myself as the posts go on, but for now… let’s get started! Here is how things will work. I will separate the posts by sector or programme. As of now, my planned posts include the Senior Sector, the Family Support Services sector, the Youth sector, the Early Childhood Development sector and the Food Gardens programme among others. I will also blog about special events, inter-sectoral collaborations and about anything else that my colleagues and I think will be of interest and use to our followers. We may even have some very special Ikamva Labantu “guest bloggers” to come on and share their thoughts with you from time to time.

Also, perhaps most importantly, I would love to hear YOUR feedback and comments on the posts as well as suggestions or requests for future ones. This blog is for YOU and I hope that everyone in the entire Ikamva Labantu community will take advantage of this new opportunity for communication.