Our week of soccer camp was a whirlwind and a success! It was such a whirlwind we haven’t had a chance to post in awhile. Here is quick recap of our week in Khayelitsha.
On Monday we arrived to the center and toured the RV United headquarters, which they share with Grassroots Soccer, and consists of a classroom, small turf field, and a dirt field with a cement border. The complex has become a community center for children to come play in a safe environment. We spent the day getting to know the RV United coaches through our own icebreakers and games, and did a run-through of some of the lessons we would be covering with the students during the camp. We were impressed with the content of the lessons, covering themes from defining a healthy relationship, to confidence building, to mindfulness and deep breathing to help girls relax in stressful situations.
We were also struck by the substantial difference in access to resources and the poverty level in the township of Khayelitsha when compared with our guesthouse in Cape Town and the infrastructure of the downtown. Two out of three residents in Khayelitsha live in “temporary housing,” which is not actually temporary, and consists of corrugated metal siding and roofed structures that families put together on their own. Electricity is sporadic in many homes and fires are common as people try to connect their own power lines to the main grid by hand. Khayelitsha was the last township to be created under apartheid and was founded in 1984 when forced removals led black South Africans to settle in the area. It is now the largest and fastest growing township in South Africa. The last official census was conducted about a decade ago and current estimates place the population between one and two million people. All of the players attending the camp as well as the coaches facilitating the lessons were born and raised in the township.
On Monday afternoon we were invited to the South African headquarters of Laureaus, a sport for peace foundation who’s initial patron was Nelson Mandela. We learned about their work in South Africa and internationally and how they support different sport-for-good NGOs around South Africa and the world.
Tuesday through Friday we assisted the coaches in facilitating their holiday camp during the day. Since it is winter in South Africa the students are on winter break right now, which is why we were able to visit and work with them throughout the week.
We started each morning with “energizers” where we sang and danced together to wake up and get warmed up as a group. The coaches then taught three lessons throughout the day in a mix of English and isiXhosa, with games and crafts mixed in to break up the day. To gain a better understanding of the curriculum we did the lessons as a group the night before to prepare for the following day.
We had fun scrimmaging with local kids while the girls were in their lessons and also playing with the girls and coaches.
In between lessons the Putney students were there to teach them games from home — capture the flag, blog tag, and duck duck goose were favorites! After lunch each day we also had craft time where we made friendship bracelets, colored, blew bubbles, and made cards for parents.
Each day Putney students identified three campers who had demonstrated leadership in some way among their peers and created and decorated certificates. We then got to announce the students and present their awards at the end of each afternoon.
On Thursday night we celebrated the 4th of July with a braii, or South Africa-style barbecue of chicken, sausage, corn, and salad at the guesthouse. The chicken was prepared by Rosie, our main contact at RV United who is also from the U.S., who came over to celebrate!
On Friday afternoon we held a graduation ceremony and talent show for the campers where players sang, danced, and put on skits for each other and the coaches. The Putney group also put together a dance routine medley of “Cotton-Eye Joe” and “Soulja Boy” and performed! At the end of the day we all covered our faces in glitter and the Putney group announced and presented certificates to all of the girls individually. They were so excited to graduate from camp!
To celebrate the end of the camp we invited the RV United coaches over for a sleepover at our guesthouse on Friday night. We ordered pizza and went to a movie down the street at one of the oldest independent arthouse theaters in Cape Town. We played cards and hung out late into the night and had a blast with new friends. This was the first ever holiday camp that RV has hosted for their players and we were grateful to be a part of it!
— Anna & Peter
