Eileen Nomdo

Eileen knows everyone in Cape Town, so it was just a matter of time before we would become acquainted. We met in 2000 while I was conducting research on Cape Town history and she ended up introducing me to about 30 people who shared with me their life histories. Eileen comes from a small community called Protea Village which was destroyed by apartheid's Group Areas Act. In the late 1960s, her community was uprooted from the village and forced out to the Cape Flats townships.

Despite that traumatic loss, Eileen and her friends and family create the warmth of community wherever they go. In Manenberg, where Eileen lives today, she lifts the spirits of all around her. Hatta Francis, her 96+ year old auntie, also spreads the joy by making confyt (jam) for loved ones.

Back in 2001, Eileen always made sure I was part of the action. Before I left for America in 2001, she organized a farewell party for me that reduced me to tears. It was one of the most beautiful experiences in my life. Gathering together all of the people I had interviewed for my Master's thesis--people who been kicked out of their homes by apartheid--Eileen threw a bash that we're still talking about. Thank you Eileen! She has always encouraged me with my work, shared her knowlege with me, and made me feel part of the community.

Recently, however, Eileen survived a terrible scare. She had to have an emergency operation on her brain which put her in a coma for two weeks. But thankfully she pulled through and is back to her old ways: calling everyone for their birthdays, checking up on the old people, giving a word or two to the young ones, and running up her phone bill.

Eileen is the glue that holds together the people of the Cape Flats!