10 Things We Did at PLAY Camp

1. Gave each child a backpack, water bottle, t-shirt and tekkies (sneakers) for them to keep - along with a pillow and sheet for each of them to use while at camp. The children (all in grade 7) also received a notebook with the Purpose Driven Life curriculum.

• One group of children was from a very poor school in Soshanguve township. Their primary language is Swani.
• The other children came from a poorer school in the Pretoria area that has a mix of white, black and colored. The white children speak primarily Afrikaans and the black children English.

As you might imagine there were some challenges due to the different languages and different competences in English.

2. Worked with a team from Big Valley Grace church (from Modesto); Prince, a camp facilitator from Durban; and the Bayete camp counselors, Jacob and Werner.

John and Lisa with part of BVG team

John with Jacob and Werner

Amy and Prince

3. Supported Lisa as she taught the children that they are loved, special, unique and valuable - and about the five purposes that God has for their lives.

4. Helped with the creative hands-on activities that reinforced the Five Purposes from the teachings.

5. Documented crazy and challenging adventure games that the kids participated in throughout the week. Building shelters out of sticks, rafts out of logs (and the tested in the dam), problem solving and high ropes courses - and an epic obstacle course. Winners of each contest were awarded points leading to a final team winner on the last day.

6. Enjoyed getting to know the kids during their free time - volleyball, swimming and coloring butterfly wings.

7. John was at every activity taking hundreds of photos and loving every minute of it! (Stay tuned to see his photos in a future post). Amy attempted to take video.

 

8. Up every morning at 6 am so that Amy could be a part of the Wake Up and Shake Up games with Prince. Had a blast learning new games and crazy camp songs.

9. Observed the changes in how the kids interacted with each other over the week. While they remained separate in many ways due to cultural and language barriers, we saw many instances of bonds being formed between black and white children - working together and helping each other. One white boy started out the week stating that he did not want to sit next to any black kids. By the end of the week he was working cooperatively, talking with his black teammates outside of group activities and hugging them in celebration.

10. Learned about the culture and current societal barriers - had our hearts saddened as we found out the horrific home situations of some of the kids - laughed and sang and danced. But most of all, we watched in awe as Lisa taught these very impressionable children that they are loved and have value and can influence change in their schools and communities.

 

 

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Training Day

We spent today training and preparing for participation in PLAY camp that begins tomorrow. The location of our training at a campground/ retreat site was in a rural area outside of Pretoria on the shores of a reservoir and was very pleasant (even if a bit cold - why didn't I pack that extra sweater?!).

This morning the team (including Roli, Lisa's four month old puppy) went over the schedule, responsibilities and expectations for our next week spent with 50 children from grade 7 at an outdoor adventure camp two hours from Pretoria.

The 50 kids are coming from two different schools, one from a township (all black kids) and another from a desegregated school but from a poor area. These kids were selected by their teachers to come to the camp (for free) because they were identified as leaders. Many of these kids have never been away from home, let alone had a chance to go swimming, do an obstacle course or ride a zipline.

Lisa Poll, founder of PLAY, went over the comprehensive curriculum that she has developed based on the Purpose Driven Life and explained the numerous other games and activities we will be coordinating with the kids each day that reinforce the core message that they are loved, have great worth and have a purpose.

The schedule seems a bit daunting, and I am uncertain what to expect with my interactions with the kids. Yet I am oddly okay with being uncomfortable. I expect to feel awkward, not know how to react to some situations and be exhausted at the end of each day. Yet I am hoping to challenge and broaden my perceptions and excited to be a part of something that affects change in a very complicated society.

We will be without internet or cell phones until July 4th - so look for the next update then.

 

 

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Game Drive in Pilanesberg National Park

John's photos of the day.

Sunrise over the platinum mines near Rustenburg

A sliver backed jackal - very unusual to see

Saw several rhinos on our drive - big behinds!

silly giraffe chewing on a bone

 

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Weary Travelers Arrive in South Africa

After 27 hours of flying, one long layover, and passing through several time zones we made it safely to Pretoria this morning.

We were graciously greeted by Johan and Christa Combrink at the Afnet headquarters ( a 10 acre compound in a suburban area). After getting settled in a comfortable guest apartment, grabbing a coat because it is actually COLD here, we went to the township of Soshanguve.

Soshanguve is about 45 minutes from Pretoria. Over 2 million people live in this township of 50 square miles. The unemployment rate is over 80%. Some areas are similar to what we in California would classify as poor (i.e., Watsonville) and other areas are heart-wrenching, dirty, uncomfortable poverty that we do not often encounter in the first world. The township developed as society changed after the end of apartheid. Blacks no longer had to be segregated in the very rural townships, but could - in theory - live wherever they wanted.However most blacks could not afford to live in the white areas of Johannesburg or Pretoria so they started a squatters camp that eventually turned into this sprawling area.

Afnet runs several orphan centers in this township. These centers provide food,school fees, school supplies, and homework help to children orphaned by AIDs that would otherwise be forgotten. Sadly, Afnet's programs in Soshanguve used to have almost 400 children. Now due to reduced donationsover the last few years, only about 125 are receiving food and support.

 

Another Adventure in Africa Begins

This weekend we are packing up our "Africa clothes." Even though this is our 3rd (and 4th for Amy) trip to Africa, it is still a challenge to figure out what to pack. Clothes and gear are strewn about, waiting for the final determination. Checking the weather. How many long sleeved shirts? What type of coat? Will we be too cold? Will we be too hot? How will John fit his shoes into his bag? Do I really need all of those toiletries?

While we making these choices, we are filled with excited anticipation about embarking on another African adventure. On past trips we have spent most of our time in Zambia. This time we will be working in South Africa at PLAY camp.

PLAY camp was started by former Aptos resident Lisa Poll who moved to South Africa to influence change in the next generation - the first generation to grow up not under apartheid. PLAY will offer four week long sleep-away camps each year (at no charge to the campers). The goal of PLAY is to empower black and white youth of South Africa to speak up for change in their communities. This is the inaugural year of PLAY and we will be taking part in the third camp, which will be held in a rural area two hours outside of Pretoria. We will be participating with the kids in ropes course, abseiling, and games. More importantly, we will listen to their stories and experience their reality for a short time.

Itinerary: Where are we?

Thursday, June 26 : Arrive in Johannesburg/Pretoria.
Accompanied by TLC missionary, Johan Combrink (Afnet), we will see the city

Friday, June 27: Visit the townships
Soshanguve is about 45 minutes from Pretoria and, even 20 years after apartheid, is still where many blacks live in extreme poverty. Afnet supports several ministries to orphans here.

Saturday, June 28-Friday, July 4: PLAY camp held at Bayete Adventure Camp 
We will not have any cell reception or internet while at the camp.

Friday, July 4 - Wednesday, July 9: Cape Town
A few days to explore another side of South Africa