10 Weeks of Wonderful

I stayed in South Africa for 10 weeks working with Dreams to Reality. A small group of individuals is running a really special program down there in Muizenberg. Renae, Angelo, Melissa, and Chrizelda made me feel at home which really allowed for interactions with the children to be so easy. A big shout out to them and everyone else working with Dreams to Reality that I did not mention.

I chose the sports development program and got placed at Christian Davids Primary. I was fortunate to work with "Uncle" Charles. This man is such a role model for the kids. He can relate to them, he encourages them, pushes them, and gets them involved as much as he can. You can tell it isn't a job for him; he does it out of love. In this program you would be interacting with the children throughout the entire schools day. You are basically running a physical education class with multiple classes a day and then running around with the children for interval (recess for the entire school). So you have to be active for this. The kids come to school with smiles on their faces everyday so excited to see the volunteers despite any struggles at home. It is extremely humbling and you will probably learn more from them than you can teach them.

Outside of program you can always find something to do. You can go on numerous scenic hikes, go surfing on the infamous Muizenberg beach, take trips to Kalk Bay for souvenirs or a bite to eat, or just hang out with the volunteers from around the world! You are really in a diverse setting and you should take advantage of it every day. Learn about apartheid and the struggles that this country is facing every day. Talk to locals of all "races" about how their lives were before and after apartheid. Learn from this experience and don't take any day for granted. You can survive on as little as $20 USD a week or really splurge with about $100 USD a week. Utilize the food that the program provides and you will save a TON of money if that is your concern.

Overall I would highly recommend coming to this country and working with this wonderful team. I cannot wait to visit them in the future and tell them how greatful I am for that opportunity.