Day 5 – Brett Archibald inspirational talk, K College alum Paul Tshele Q&A, Baphumelele Children’s Home, Gold’s Restaurant

This morning we started our day by receiving a life changing story from Brett Archibald, a motivational speaker from South Africa. Brett shared a horrific story of how he survived after being thrown overboard a boat and treading water for 28 hours. Hearing his experience influenced a new and positive mindset for any obstacle we may face in our life. It was a truly incredible story. After this, we were able to learn about a Kalamazoo College alum, Paul Tshele, who is originally from Zimbabwe and came to America to study political science and philosophy. He explained that after graduating from K, he applied to law school at the University of Cape Town. We were given the chance to ask questions and learn about the challenges he experienced in his life, as well as the ways he has grown from such a diverse education. 

As we’ve traveled to South Africa, it has been amazing to observe the diversity of languages here. There are locals that speak in multiple native tongues, and there are also tourists  from all over the world speaking French, German, English, and more. However, there is one aspect of language that is universal: joy. Today at the Baphumelele Children’s Home, everyone was able to communicate through the language of joy. We started this day with some lunch from KFC. This meal was significant to the children because the kids normally never got to indulge in such a luxury. The next few hours was a free-for-all as we got to do hand-clapping games, parachutes, give piggy back rides, and play with soccer balls with the kids. These activities allowed us to build stronger connections with the kids and learn more about their lives. In between the fun and games, we were lead on a tour by Frank, our travel agent. We got to look into the kids’ bedrooms and kitchens, and on some walls there was even a schedule posted that gave us a glimpse of what their daily life was like. One part of the tour that struck many athletes was seeing the hospitals where infants that had been born with AIDS were kept. It was heartbreaking to hear that the infants kept here would soon end up dying to the illness they were born with. It opened our eyes to the severity of the AIDS crisis in Africa and how desperate many regions are for proper medical care. Talking one on one with some of the children was eye-opening and inspirational. To hear their struggle and outlook on life was both heartbreaking and moving. Later, we gave the gifts we brought from home to each child we were given, which was a great experience to meet and understand why we came to Africa in the first place: to not only impact the lives of others, but also of our own. . It was also so enjoyable to let the children share aspects of their culture with us. For example, some of the young girls were braiding people’s hair, and teaching us songs in their native tongues–little things that are an enormous part of their culture that we will never forget. When the long day of fun and festivities had come to a close, the children blew us away with a handful of pre-rehearsed songs. Hearing their angelic little voices was heartwarming, as some of them would stand on their toes or dance around as they sang. They ended by singing the national anthem of South Africa, which helped us sense the pride they had in their country. Finally, it was time for the hardest part of the afternoon: goodbyes. 
Leaving was one of the most emotionally draining parts of this trip because of the incredible connections made. It was difficult to hear the children say that they were used to people like us coming and going, and only made our hearts churn for them more. However, we boarded the bus with each and every one of those children on our hearts and on our minds. We are so grateful to Miss Rosie Mashale for inviting us into this sanctuary to form bonds with the children. They impacted our lives just as much as we hopefully impacted theirs. Dinner was fantastic at Gold’s Restaurant where we had a traditional South African meal, complete with entertainment and face paint.

Looking forward to tomorrow!

Grace and Syd

Please consider donating to the Baphumelele Children’s Home. These children are incredible and a small amount of money can go a long way to help them.

 Day 4 – Soccer Match vs. Ajax Cape Town F.C., District 6 Museum, and Dinner at Camps Bay

Today we had a later wake up call! It felt great to start the day fresh with more sleep. After breakfast to headed to Ajax Cape Town F.C. The fields and facilities were beautiful. Some of us played a game of ping pong and cards while the boys warmed up for their game. Ajax is one of the top soccer clubs in Cape Town. The team gave our boys a run for their money, and both teams played a hard game. It was in the upper 70s and was very sunny. We incorporated some of the cheers we learned at our previous service project, RV United. The final score was 2-4. Both teams fought hard and it was a fun match to watch. After a quick lunch at the soccer club, we headed to the District 6 Museum. There we were greeted by Noor Ebrahim. Noor was one of founders of the museum and was personally effected by the Group Areas Act, which extracted people from their homes to create white-only neighborhoods. Families were torn apart by these laws during apartheid. Noor shared his personal experiences and the effects that it had on his life, even to this day. The museum has contributed to many families being reunited. One of the larger pieces of the museum is a map of District 6 before apartheid, in which families can write their names representing where they used to live. Another memorable piece of the museum was the structure of street signs that were brought back by people that demolished District 6. The museum was very powerful and we learned a lot, reminding us that the people of South Africa have been through unimaginable and terrible experiences that is an important part of their history. Later, we headed to Camps Bay to a beautiful restaurant, The Bungalow, on the water. We were so grateful for the meal that was served to us and were able to enjoy the amazing sunset over the mountains and ocean. Today was a great day full of learning and had so much meaning. We are all truly grateful to be in this country and to experience it together.

Signing off,

Sophie and Vanessa 

Day 3 – Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope, Penguins at Boulder’s Beach, Soccer match vs University of Western Cape and Volleyball match vs University of Cape Town

Today we took a tour along the Atlantic coast and our tour guide Frank told us many things about the formation of early South Africa. South Africa is home to the largest number of species of flora and is surrounded by both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. We began to travel towards The cape of Good Hope, which marks the point in which these two oceans meet. This is also the birthplace of hurricanes that meet us in the United States. Along our travel of the coastline the roads were very narrow and winding which made our travels slower, however the views were beautiful. At one point we had to pass through a toll booth, which was something we had not yet experienced in South Africa! Once we arrived to the Cape of Good Hope we were met with very strong winds, and breathtaking views. We also encountered baboons, antelope, and ostriches. We took a short hike up to the Cape Point lighthouse, which was much easier than yesterday’s hike! We returned to the bus and departed for Simons Town where we ate at SeaForth restaurant. At the restaurant they served us Hake, a type of fish, with french fries and strawberry ice cream for dessert. After lunch, we took a walk to Boulder’s Beach Penguin Colony for a fun encounter with the penguins and their babies. Being only a few feet away from them was an amazing experience. We then departed for University of Western Cape Town where we supported the men’s soccer team in their match. The weather was very hot, but we were ecstatic when the men won 3-0! After their game, we departed for University of Cape Town to play a volleyball match. Our opponents found themselves to be one player short, so Vanessa stepped up and played with them until the other players arrived. This served to be a great icebreaker between us and UCT. We won in three sets! After the game was over, we found ourselves having so much fun that we combined teams and continued to play for fun, long after the last whistle blew. 

Day 2 – Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront

Today we went to Table Mountain and V&A Waterfront. Wow, what an experience it has been! We started off the day with 6:30 am wake up call and left for Table Mountain at 8 o’clock. Our tour guide drove part way up the mountain where we stopped to begin our hike. We were told it would be an easy hike, but it was a bit challenging to say the least. Beginning the hike up was confusing because we weren’t sure of the name of the trail. The path we first chose went around the mountain, where the terrain was not uphill but rather flat. After being stopped by some locals and their cute dogs, we were told that the path we were taking was going to be very difficult and dangerous, in which there was a chain we at some point would have to climb up. We then turned the whole group around and began a different path up the mountain. In small groups everyone began to climb up at different paces. Motivation from teammates helped a lot as we climbed up the mountain. It was a very hot day and the trail to get up had very steep steps. Each group arrived at the top at different times with a sense of accomplishment. Looking down toward the bottom made us appreciate the journey up. The views were amazing and we are learning many values about teamwork, encouragement, and living in the moment. We were refreshed with water at the top and took the cable car down to the bottom. After the hike, we went to V&A waterfront (a vibrant and bustling mall) to a get a nice meal. This afternoon we had a nice time bonding at the hotel and reflected on the climb and our fantastic journey so far. 

-Zoey & Kate

Day 1: Robben Island Tour, RV United Soccer Club Clinic – Khayelitsha Township, Match vs Saints Volleyball Club

Our first day in Cape Town, South Africa was a great adventure. We hopped of the 18 hour plane ride and headed right on to undulation of the Atlantic Ocean aka the ferry to Robben Island. At Robben Island, we had the privilege of receiving a tour from a previous political prisoner, Tom Moses. A highlight of this was seeing Nelson Mandela’s prison cell (where he was imprisoned for 18 years) and the garden where he buried his writings from a “Long Walk to Freedom”. Tom’s story was very moving and we truly appreciated his dedication to making sure his and so many others’ stories are heard. Next, we set off to the Khayelitsha Township to meet members of the RV (Resilient Victorious) United Women’s Football Club. This organization partners with Grassroots Soccer Organization, and focuses on using sport to encourage physical health, self-esteem, and equitable gender norms for girls and young women. As women, this was very inspiring to see, especially as this organization practices so much of what we learn and talk about in our classes back home. The girls also gave our men’s soccer team a run for their money on the soccer field. They also taught us how to make ragballs, a ball made out of completely recycled materials. After a quick break, our day ended with a competitive match against Saints Club Volleyball. It was nice to end the day with a familiar activity that reminded us just how lucky we are to be traveling and playing in the beautiful country. Until tomorrow morning at 6:30AM….

Signing off, Rachel and Shelby