I was incredibly privileged to go to South Africa for 12 days. I learned so much on that trip — especially about the things I’d taken for granted, and what success and hard work really look like.
If you haven’t already seen our Instagram or TikTok posts, please make sure to check them out!
Taking Things for Granted
I was hugely grateful to visit two different townships — Langa and Soweto. In this blog, I’ll focus on Langa, as it was the first township I experienced and it came with a wave of emotions.
If you’re unfamiliar with townships, I strongly encourage you to do some research — it’s fascinating.
Langa, located in Cape Town, was the first township in the city. Our tour guide walked us through its deep and powerful history and why it’s such an important part of South African heritage (again — please look it up, it’s incredible).
Three things really stood out to me:
the conditions, the community, and the emotions.
The Conditions
The conditions were very poor compared to what we’re used to in the UK. One thing that struck me was that if someone from the UK lived in one of these townships, they’d likely be seen as homeless — or having hit “rock bottom”.
But for the families who have lived there their whole lives, it’s simply home. It’s what they know.
What amazed me most was how content, happy, and grateful people were — despite living in conditions we’d consider unimaginable.
The Community
I’d never seen anything like it.
People were so proud to be from Langa. Proud to be seen, recognised — and above all, proud to be South African.
It was incredibly inspiring to see people who had so little, still smiling, laughing, and living with gratitude.
We had the privilege of being welcomed into a home — a shipping container split in half. Inside lived a woman who greeted us warmly. Her home consisted of a bed that took up half the space, a tiny walkway, a small TV in the corner, and a little wardrobe. That was it.
Yet she smiled, laughed, and even said, “Hello, how are you today?”
I’ll admit, it felt strange stepping into someone else’s home and private space — but I was deeply grateful for what I saw and learned.
The Emotions
What I felt in Langa was unlike anything I’d ever experienced — both for myself, and from those living there.
As I mentioned earlier, they were still smiling, still laughing, still enjoying life.
It reminded me that the next time I find myself thinking, “This isn’t fair,” I need to stop — and remember that moment.
To stop being an entitled idiot and carry some perspective.
What Success and Hard Work Look Like
Our tour guide for the trip — MC — actually lives in Langa. He’s lived there his entire life.
He invited each group into his home to share his story, and it was truly heartbreaking.
His mother raised 17 children in one tiny room.
They all lived together until MC became an adult and finally moved out to pursue a new path in life.
His mother worked 7 days a week as a maid in a lovely house in Cape Town, earning just 15p a week.
That figure stunned all of us — how could someone provide for 17 children on 15p a week?
MC explained that with the 15p, his mother would go to the local shop, buy ingredients, and make doughnuts.
They would then sell the doughnuts around the neighbourhood to make a profit and buy more food.
MC, as a young boy, became the family’s salesman. The pressure he carried to make those sales — just so his family could eat — was mind-blowing.
And all I could think was, what was I even stressing about at that age?
One memory came to mind — I remember being upset that my dad hadn’t bought me a rugby ball yet. Meanwhile, MC was out on the streets, carrying the hunger of 16 siblings on his shoulders.
MC later told us that he’d reached a point in life where he realised that nothing would be handed to him, and that he’d have to work incredibly hard to escape his situation.
So he did.
He went to school, earned a qualification in tourism, became a tour guide — and now travels the world, meeting people and building a successful life for himself.
Incredible.
A Final Word from AFON
From AFON, I want to say a huge DIOLCH to anyone who has supported us over the years.
This trip truly made me reflect on how grateful I am for everyone who has bought from us, liked our content, or even acknowledged us.
You’ll never know how much it means — so thank you.
Diolch yn fawr iawn // Thank you very much
– AFON
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Roeddwn i’n hynod o freintiedig i allu mynd i Dde Affrica am 12 diwrnod.
Dysgais gymaint ar y daith honno — am y pethau roeddwn i’n eu cymryd yn ganiataol, a beth mae llwyddiant a gwaith caled wir yn ei olygu.
Os nad ydych wedi gweld ein postiadau ar Instagram neu TikTok eto, sicrhewch eich bod yn edrych ar y cynnwys!
Cymryd Pethau’n Ganiataol
Roeddwn i’n ddiolchgar iawn i gael ymweld â dau drefgordd wahanol — Langa ac Soweto.
Yn y blog yma, byddaf yn canolbwyntio ar Langa, gan mai dyna oedd y drefgordd gyntaf i mi ymweld â hi — ac roedd yn brofiad emosiynol iawn.
Os nad ydych yn gwybod beth yw trefgorddau, rwy’n eich annog yn fawr i ymchwilio — mae’n hynod ddiddorol.
Mae Langa wedi’i lleoli yn Nhrefn Fain, a hi oedd y drefgordd gyntaf yno.
Esboniodd ein tywysydd hanes Langa a pham mae’n mor bwysig i hanes De Affrica (eto — edrychwch i mewn iddo, mae’n anhygoel).
Roedd tri pheth yn sefyll allan i mi:
y cyflwr, y gymuned, a’r emosiynau.
Y Cyflwr
Roedd y cyflwr yn eithaf gwael o’i gymharu â’r hyn rydym ni’n arfer ag ef yn y DU.
Un peth a darodd fi oedd — pe byddai rhywun o’r DU yn byw yn y trefgorddau hyn, byddent yn cael eu hystyried yn ddigartref, neu wedi cyrraedd “Rock Bottom”.
Ond i’r teuluoedd sydd wedi byw yno eu holl fywydau — dyna yw eu cartref.
Dyna ydynt.
A dyna’r cyfan maen nhw’n ei adnabod.
Yr hyn oedd yn drawiadol oedd bod pobl yn byw mewn amgylchiadau anodd iawn — ond eto’n fodlon, yn hapus ac yn ddiolchgar.
Y Gymuned
Doedd dim byd tebyg i’w weld o’r blaen.
Roedd pobl mor falch o fod yn dod o Langa.
Yn falch o gael eu cydnabod o’r diwedd, ac yn falch o fod yn Dde Affricanwyr.
Roedd yn ysbrydoledig gweld pobl heb ddim bron — eto’n gwenu, yn hapus ac yn mwynhau.
Cawsom y fraint o fynd i mewn i gartref – cynhwysydd llong wedi’i dorri’n hanner.
Y tu mewn, roedd menyw yn byw yno ac fe’n croesawodd yn gynnes.
Roedd y gwely yn cymryd hanner y lle, llwybr bach cul, teledu yn y gornel a wardrob bychan — a dyna oedd hi.
Ond eto — roedd hi’n gwenu, yn chwerthin, ac yn dweud, “Hello, sut wyt ti heddiw?”
Rhaid cyfaddef, roedd yn teimlo’n rhyfedd mynd i mewn i gartref rhywun arall — ond roeddwn i’n ddiolchgar iawn am y profiad.
Yr Emosiynau
Doedd dim byd tebyg i’r hyn a deimlais i yn Langa o’r blaen — na fy emosiynau fy hun, nac emosiynau’r bobl oedd yn byw yno.
Fel dywedais eisoes — roedden nhw’n chwerthin, yn gwenu ac yn mwynhau eu hunain.
Mae hynny wedi aros gyda mi — ac mae’n atgof parhaol: os byddaf erioed yn teimlo’n anghyfiawn, rhaid i mi ddweud wrthyf fy hun i beidio â bod yn hunan-ganolog — a chofio beth welais i.
Beth yw Llwyddiant a Gwaith Caled?
Ein tywysydd teithiau — MC — sy’n byw yn Langa. Mae e wedi byw yno ei holl fywyd.
Gwahoddodd bob grŵp i’w gartref ac esboniodd ei stori — a oedd yn dorcalonnus.
Cafodd ei fagu gyda 17 o blant mewn un ystafell fach iawn.
Buont yn rhannu’r lle hyd nes i MC adael fel oedolyn.
Roedd ei fam yn gweithio 7 diwrnod yr wythnos fel glanhäwr mewn tŷ hyfryd yn De Affrica — gan ennill dim ond 15c yr wythnos.
Roedd hynny’n sioc i ni i gyd — sut roedd hi’n gallu darparu i’r teulu cyfan ar 15c yr wythnos?
Esboniodd MC fod ei fam yn defnyddio’r 15c i brynu cynhwysion i wneud dognuts.
Roedden nhw’n eu gwerthu yn y gymuned er mwyn gwneud elw i brynu bwyd.
MC oedd y gwerthwr ifanc — y pwysau oedd arno fel bachgen i sicrhau bod gan y teulu fwy o fwyd oedd yn syfrdanol.
Yn y foment honno, roeddwn i’n meddwl — be’ oeddwn i’n poeni amdano pan oeddwn i’n ifanc?
Cofiais un peth — roeddwn i’n poeni os oedd fy nhad yn mynd i brynu pêl rygbi i mi.
Tra roedd MC ar y strydoedd — gyda newyn 16 o frodyr a chwiorydd yn pwyso ar ei ysgwyddau.
Yn y pen draw, dywedodd MC wrthym: “Doedd dim byd am ddim — roedd rhaid i mi weithio’n galed i adael Langa.”
A dyna wnaeth e.
Aeth i’r ysgol, enillodd gymhwyster mewn twristiaeth, ac mae bellach yn dywysydd teithiau llwyddiannus sy’n teithio’r byd.
Anhygoel.
Geiriau Olaf gan AFON
O AFON, hoffwn ddweud DIOLCH ENFAWR i bawb sydd wedi ein cefnogi dros y blynyddoedd.
Fe wnaeth y daith hon i mi werthfawrogi popeth — ac i feddwl am ba mor ddiolchgar ydw i i unrhyw un sydd wedi prynu, hoffi neu hyd yn oed cydnabod ni.
Fyddwch chi byth yn gwybod pa mor ddiolchgar ydw i — felly diolch o galon.
Diolch yn fawr iawn
– AFON