ACE in South Africa 2024

 

Over their three weeks in Cape Town, the ACE team supported two local organizations, VUSA Academy and Ladles of Love. At VUSA, the student-athletes supported their education programs by teaching English to young children in Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDs) through songs, games, and stories. They also assisted with VUSA’s after-school sports camps where they coached, soccer, rugby, field hockey, and more. With Ladles of Love, the team contributed to local food distribution initiatives, including one day where they made and packaged over 1,400 sandwiches.

While we made 1,400 delectable PB&J combo sandwiches at Ladles of Love, painted building blocks, and stirred pots of curry and rice to give to lots of kids at an ECD (Early Childhood Development Center), it was the conversations between the administration, security guards, teachers, café workers, and so many more throughout this whole trip that had me reflecting. I’ve never been a big reflection journal person, but it was simply the sheer number of lessons and stories that somehow filled 30 pages of my ACE journal. This reflection had me thinking about who I was as an individual in this big world and from their POV, what small changes they wanted to see to put bread on the table, see their families happy, and persist through challenges to make that happen.

-Monica Balakrishnan, Duke Women’s Fencing

Beyond their project work, the ACE team explored South Africa’s history and culture, visiting Robben Island, the District 6 Museum, the Iziko Museum, and the Khwa Ttu Nature Reserve, where they learned about the long history of the San people in Southern Africa. The team had the opportunity to celebrate Mandela Day on July 18,  a holiday honoring the legacy of Nelson Mandela and his commitment to service and community engagement, with a special celebration at VUSA and a concert sponsored by Ladles of Love.

Overall, the three weeks in Cape Town truly changed me as an individual. It helped shape my perspectives about other cultures and communities, allowed me to cherish the things I am fortunate enough to call my own, showed me how rewarding it is to help others and build connections, and strengthened my ability to adapt in certain situations.

-Macy Szukics, Duke Field Hockey