You never know what to expect with the bitcoin community. During our stay in Botswana, I asked my friend if he knew anyone in Johannesburg. Fortunately, he did and connected us to Jabu who then coordinated a visit to a township (underdeveloped human settlement) near Soweto, Mohlakeng. The local community put together an itinerary to visit businesses that accepted bitcoin!
The day started with an interview at the local radio station. We’ve never been on the radio before! It was exciting to record in the studio and help explain the basics of this new type of digital money. We then visited a daycare run by an elderly woman, which shows that age is not a barrier to bitcoin. She’s still learning and allows the community to use her daycare as a space for literacy sessions. Next, we met an apparel designer whose shop was filled with eclectic pieces made from recycled materials. He accepts bitcoin because it’s easy and doesn’t require permission from anyone else. The visit to the math academy turned into a tutoring session. We reviewed the halving formula with one of the tutors who spent the next hour dissecting it and explaining his thoughts. They view bitcoin as mathematical money!
Our last stop was a fast-food vendor who served sandwiches, burgers, and juice. The vendor was a jovial character who was open to pricing some of his items in satoshis, a level of maturity very few merchants have reached.
This community is a testament to what can be achieved when a few come together to foster change. The youth (Thami, Ofentse, Retshepile & Tumelo) deserve all the credit and I look forward to to their continued growth!
