(children singing and clapping with drums)
Elizabeth: For the South African version
of the ACE program this summer,
we were there for three weeks
in a town outside of Cape Town, called Gordon's Bay.
We were working in the school, teaching children about
how to set goals, and how to persevere,
and how to look towards the future.
And we told them a little about our sports.
The second week, we then went to an orphanage
in a different township, where we were helping them
to build market stands so that they could sell the produce
of the new garden that they just built.
And also playing with the children,
and helping to decorate some of the rooms in the orphanage.
Lizzie: So most of our focus
was on bringing health eduation
to the children that we worked with,
and we also started a new physical education program
with the children, because they're starting to bring
a new track program to the school.
So it was fun to be the beginning of a new program
for the next generation of kids that go to school there.
Oliver: You know, just to see a different way of life,
to see the way people react with each other,
the way just everyday life is lived.
You know I've been asked a lot what...
What was your favorite part of the trip?
What was one thing you remember?
I think the answer I've given every time was
after I built the market stand
for the woman who owned the orphanage,
she came out when we were finally done and looked at it.
And I remember the look on her face,
and to see the joy that she had
and the joy that her husband had,
and knowing that that would be put to good use
really made me feel like I made somewhat of a difference
while I was there.
-: In the past, she's been selling her fruit and clothes
on the ground, and so the market stand that we built
meant that she had a seat,
and that her produce would be clean,
and that she could sell it.
So just seeing her reaction and how grateful she was,
was the definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
Being more aware is definitely something
that I've brought back.
I've been more aware about what's been going on in the news,
what's going on in the world,
and just how to appreciate people from different cultures.
I think being thrown into a culture
that I really didn't know much about taught me
how to learn from others,
and take a perspective from the fact
that everyone has a different background,
and what that means to different people,
and the cultural values associated with that.
-: You know, the ACE program is once in a lifetime.
And it's obviously specific to student-athletes,
and when you're given an opportunity to go
across the world, many different destinations,
obviously you choose which one suits you best,
cause there's no reason to not take that opportunity.
-: To this day, I'm still noticing
things that have changed since I went,
and how I've grown as a person since then.
And I think it's a pretty invaluable experience.