At the corner of Jan Smuts Street in Durban, six women meet every day, waiting for a truck to come and get the cardboard (纸板) they have collected.
Every morning Chitha leaves her house at 5 a. m. to collect cardboard. She has been doing this for the past 12 years. She says her dream is to see her children go to college. Then she found this job.
" It's dirty and people look down on us. We only make about R3, 400 a month. However, this is a ticket for us to send our children to college." Chitha said with a big smile. She added that she found great joy knowing her daughter is in college.
" We have a slogan(口号) —— Keep on going and never give up." Chitha continued." We don't just sit here waiting for the truck to come. We also talk about life, give advice about problems and help each other. We are a family here."
" We are all single mothers and have to make money to raise our children. I'm collecting this dirty cardboard for my three children to have a brighter future. I will continue until the last one also goes to college."
Chitha's daughter Naledi is now in her second year at a college. She said with tears in her eyes," Mom is doing all she can to survive (生存). I admire her for that."
