CatchUp: Weekend and Last week!

So they're tearing up the pavement outside the volunteer house and all the way down the street - something about new cables? Anyway, I have no clue if it is correlated or not but we've had at least 3 black outs in the last week. Which is not cool if you want to connect to the Internet and write a blog. Some people at HQ have started calling it TIA (this is Africa!) That being said.. Here we go!

The End of Last Week

More super fun sports in Khayelitsha and at GAPA. Notably at GAPA on Thursday we had our weekly meeting with the grannies which was particularly fun this week, as we were recapping the signing workshop we had taught them last week.  Apart of the 'each one teach one' initiative where the grannies and volunteers teach each other different things! Andreas, a Danish teaching volunteer worked in a special needs school where certain children didn't / couldn't speak, so they used some sign language to communicate with them. It was really enjoyable to learn and was wonderful to see everyone remembering together all the different words!

On the same day we had a numerous volunteer group as the 'Girl Impact' vols came to GAPA to speak with the older (9-14 year old) girls. Girl impact is an incredible project as it gives girls a forum to discuss things like early pregnancy, contraception, women's rights and puberty. Things that they normally wouldn't be able to talk about. Which is awesome.. But it left the other grade 4-7's (the boys) low in number when they came to do sorts with us.
So we used the situation to our advantage, and marked out a football pitch using the whole of the outside area, then made teams mixing 4 kids with 4 vols on each team, even using bibs! This sort of organisation is rare at GAPA which is normally a baby step away from caos, which made our football match even more special! I had the most amazing time! And so did the boys, even this week they have been coming up to me saying 'man of the match' pointing proudly at his chest, also star striker/goal keeper - after the names I kept calling them!

The whole of Friday was a highlight also! We stayed out in the primary school all day, that's right! No planning that afternoon because we went to street cricket! We closed the road outside the primary school from around 1:30 till 4 o'clock to hold an inter-school street cricket and street football tournament- it was incredile! We used old oil drums, painted bright orange as wickets, and proper 5 a-side goals to take over the street and play sports! Despite our equipment, the kids and the STOP sign we still had cars and buses winding through the street mid-game! It was insane, but it really felt like 'street' cricket, having to pause for a car enhanced the experience. Needless to say, it was a busy street with yet more schools adjacent to it. As the children were let out of school they stopped to watch and support the matches. Having spectators cheer, and to see the net ripple as you score a goal in football is a unique and magical feeling, to see the delight in all the players faces was truly special.

In addition the cricket games were just as unreal - you would think that when a kid smacks a ball over a couple corrugated iron shacks and stone walls that the batsmen will run for 6. But, the kids are up and over walls in an instant! Plus the local residents know the sports coaches and help find the ball for us! Some houses were playing musical, others cooking braai, it was a fantastic atmosphere and a unique experience that I will be one of the highlights of my trip for sure.

Weekend Exploits

I felt as though I had a nice, long relaxed weekend. Saturday comprised of the Old Buiscut Mill again for the delicious foods and iced tea. On the menu today was rice crispy, banana and Nutella crêpes, followed by Korean chilli rice noodles in a chicken chow mien. Not to forget the freshly chopped coconut that we drank and ate!

Sunday was more adventurous. Annika met Darron whilst walking her dogs at the TEARS project in Ocean View. Now Darron used to work at TEARS for 7 years! And now he owns a surf school - so he invited her and myself down for a lesson! It was 'lekker bru' which is Afrikaans for 'amazing bro!' He's such a cool guy who not only has the body of superman, owns a pizzeria and surf shop. But he also runs an outreach program for vulnerable children from 9-14 years old from the local deprived communities. I have a lot of respect for that man. When I can I will update this blog and talk more about the surfing and outreach program because it's really interesting and impressive, but right now the Internet cafe is closing!

Love to all my familly xxx until next time!