“Molo, ngubani igama lakho?” (hello, what is your name?) screamed with such enthusiasm that it rang loudly in my ears! What an amazing wamkelekile (welcome) arriving to the gates of ACJ Phakade Primary School where my group would spend the week running holiday sports camp for kids in grades 6-7. We coached and taught track and field, basketball, volleyball, netball, softball, soccer, field hockey, wrestling, and rugby! On the final day of the week, the kids demonstrated their skills in each of these sports. So far this has been the best day of camp because we trained in smaller groups enabling us to coach one on one with these inspiring athletes! While demonstrating their skills we witnessed their passion, competitiveness, and determination. True athletes they are!
Instantly, we adapted to our new home for the next few weeks! The community of Nomzamo is full of loving, passionate, and ingenious kids. Loving: the abundant love and affection the kids offer us daily has made us feel welcome and wanted. They are extremely accepting of us into their home. Not only are they loving towards us, but to themselves and the other kids in the community. Passionate: the kids are animated and engaged in everything they do. Whether it’s sports, braiding hair, dancing, singing, helping carry equipment or serving lunch each kid gives 110{639f82de1b4b629c2cbc70ca3399ae95f04e1d6c782a3ccc5e0955dead873b7f} with every opportunity. Ingenious: their creativity and original ways to use unwanted materials making them into toys. Originally, I thought the language barrier would be a difficulty; however, the kids have introduced us to their native language. They want to teach us, help us, and get to know us, just as much as we want to do the same with them. I believe they enjoy laughing with us when we don’t get it quite right at first, but we see their excitement when we finally pronounce the word or use one correctly. Their genius is inspiring!
“My goal is to inspire, encourage, motivate, and educate during my time here. Yet I am the one who has been inspired, encouraged, motivated, and educated, and I am only a week in!”
There is never a dull moment here! My goal is to inspire, encourage, motivate, and educate during my time here. Yet I am the one who has been inspired, encouraged, motivated, and educated, and I am only a week in! I look forward to the upcoming days here in the Cape coaching another week of sports, empowering the women in the community to improve and learn basic computer skills, and working on the construction project at the eco school.
Not only are the kids incredible but so are the views from Lions Head and the hills of Gordon’s Bay. During down time I have enjoyed developing friendships and exploring the local markets and Gordon’s Bay Winter Wonderland. We took a thrilling hike to the Gordon’s Bay sign, went on a tour of the Langa Township, took a Xhosa lesson, and attended a rugby game!