We have been privileged and lucky enough to spend time with the organization Sisters4Sisters, a grassroots organization working to provide a platform for women and youth who have been victims of domestic abuse and are survivors of difficult situations. So far, we've spent four days with the Young Girlfriends program and a day with the Youth Boys program. We were charged with putting together a youth empowerment workshop. Last Wednesday we spent time with the program's leader, Eunice, to find out what her visions for the workshops were. After running a few ideas by her, we got to work planning three days of activities not knowing how many girlfriends or boys would show up and whether we would even have an impact.
We put together the following schedule/activities:
Thursday (mainly devoted to Young Girlfriends)
Icebreakers (All My Friends and Neighbors; Names; Goals for the workshop)
Vision Boards
Fitness and Wellness (dance station featuring the Wobble led by Megan and Aimee; Yoga session led by Shannon; cardio/abs/push-ups station led by Stephanie, Rebekah, and Lauren)
Lunch and Evaluation
Friday (mainly devoted to Young Girlfriends)
Icebreakers led by members of the Young Girlfriends
Nutrition presentations
My 2 Cents- an activity where particpants disagreed/agreed with certain statements on a variety of issues including peer pressure, body image, religion, and HIV/AIDS and discussed their perspectives
Lunch and Evaluation
Saturday
Icebreakers (playing soccer; name game)
Youth Boys: discussion of current issues facing males aged 13-20 including life goals, masculinity, relationships, and HIV/AIDS; vision boards
Young Girlfriends: Arts & crafts; "recess games" including hop scotch and drawing with chalk
We couldn't have asked for a better response! The most popular activity was creating vision boards. We brought a pile of magazines, markers, scissors, glue sticks, and sheets of paper so that everyone could create a board that featured words and pictures depicting how the girls and boys viewed themselves now and in the future. The Young Girlfriends and Youth Boys were open and honest with us and definitely appeared to leave more empowered. As we got into our van, there weren't enough hugs to go around.
Our hope is that the Young Girlfriends and Youth Boys are able to flourish in the future. Just today we met with a group of Young Girlfriends who are in perfect position to take over leadership once we leave. The sky is the limit, and we will be willing to help in any way we can from the U.S.
Monday, January 7, 2013
It's a small world after all
The winds have slowed down in Cape Town and our involvement with various organizations and groups has picked up!
The highlight from January 2 was visiting Africa Jam. This organization is a nonprofit that has established partnerships both in South Africa and the United States. As you may be able to guess, their focus is music! So when we first arrived at Africa Jam's location in the middle of Khayelitsha we were welcomed with several dance performances by the "junior" class (10-14 year olds) and the "senior" class sang two songs for the visitors. The 10 AU Alt Break-ers were there as well as a larger group of volunteers from Minnesota. Other than singing and dancing, Africa Jam provides scripts and acting lessons to the youth. The program is designed to give the youth an energy outlet and form of expression, stronger relationships with God, and opportunities for community involvement.
Then we went to a carnival. Let's just talk for a hot second about how small this world really is. So in Joburg, we met this guy, John, at the hostel. We gave him and his 85-year-old backpacking friend, Herb, a ride to the airport so they could continue their adventures. Well we totally lost track after we boarded the plane and had no intention of keeping in touch BUT as we were walking down the sidewalk on Long Street during the carnival in downtown Cape Town, WE RAN INTO JOHN!!! We all thought it was pretty funny. So that was fun. And then Rebekah found out that Herb lives 3 blocks away from her (give or take) in New York. Small world, right?!
By the way... sorry we have kind of been MIA this past week. It has been BUSY BUSY BUSY. More updates to come!
(Hi, Mom!)
The highlight from January 2 was visiting Africa Jam. This organization is a nonprofit that has established partnerships both in South Africa and the United States. As you may be able to guess, their focus is music! So when we first arrived at Africa Jam's location in the middle of Khayelitsha we were welcomed with several dance performances by the "junior" class (10-14 year olds) and the "senior" class sang two songs for the visitors. The 10 AU Alt Break-ers were there as well as a larger group of volunteers from Minnesota. Other than singing and dancing, Africa Jam provides scripts and acting lessons to the youth. The program is designed to give the youth an energy outlet and form of expression, stronger relationships with God, and opportunities for community involvement.
Then we went to a carnival. Let's just talk for a hot second about how small this world really is. So in Joburg, we met this guy, John, at the hostel. We gave him and his 85-year-old backpacking friend, Herb, a ride to the airport so they could continue their adventures. Well we totally lost track after we boarded the plane and had no intention of keeping in touch BUT as we were walking down the sidewalk on Long Street during the carnival in downtown Cape Town, WE RAN INTO JOHN!!! We all thought it was pretty funny. So that was fun. And then Rebekah found out that Herb lives 3 blocks away from her (give or take) in New York. Small world, right?!
By the way... sorry we have kind of been MIA this past week. It has been BUSY BUSY BUSY. More updates to come!
(Hi, Mom!)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!
Hello from Cape Town! It's 2013!!
We arrived without any problems yesterday afternoon and were welcomed into our new home-away-from-home in Observatory. The house is equipped with 8 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen/laundry room, two fridges, and three coffee makers! And a pool! But don't worry, we are staying humble and living a simple life with only cold water.
After we settled in the neighborhood and went on a grocery shopping adventure, we freshened up and made a toast (with sparkling apple juice) to the legacy of our new sisterhood. Then we met some students from Illnois and Pennsylvania at a local bar to ring in the new year. We were home at 12:26 which may sound early and lame, but I would like to announce that we have set a new New Year's Eve record for AU Alt. Break!
We woke up this morning at the same time that most of our friends back home were probably beginning their celebrations. After making breakfast and using one of the french presses to brew some coffee, we all piled into our Scooby-doo style stick-shift van with our trusty driver, Loyiso. The view as we drove around Table Top mountain was absolutely captivating and, before we knew it, we were at the waterfront. According to our itinerary, we were supposed to tour Robben Island; unfortunaely, the winds (which were whipping through the air at a brutal 72 km/h) were stronger than the ferry, so it was closed. The Robben Island exhibit was closed and just gave us the opportunity to shop for souveniers.
We explored Nobel Square, which commerorates the 4 "local" Nobel Peace Price winners, ate a picnic lunch by the water, and Mindy even tried a new job as a Haggen-Daz ice cream shop worker! (It didn't last long -- she ate too much of the ice cream.)
Our afternoon was quite adventerous! We went to the beach with the hopes of catching up on some reading, soaking in some summer sun, and getting a quality ocean-side nap. Well, remember those 72 km/hr winds? They were worse at the beach. Much worse. Shannon was the only one brave enough to completely submerge in the water. (crazy girl!) Mindy, Megan, and Stephanie tipped their toes in the water without the intention of getting wet, but mother nature had a different idea for us. The 12 ft. waves crashed in and not only worreid us for our lives, but also caused a sand storm! So the rest of the group stayed huddled up trying to protect any skin from the harsh beating of sand granules. Needless to say, the 2 hours we were planning to stay at the beach turned into 20 minutes.
Our journey to Cape Town so far has been a good chance to relax and get a feel for the city. Tomorrow starts off our more service-based activities! Updates to come!
Keep sending prayers and positive energy our way! Love to all xx
We arrived without any problems yesterday afternoon and were welcomed into our new home-away-from-home in Observatory. The house is equipped with 8 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen/laundry room, two fridges, and three coffee makers! And a pool! But don't worry, we are staying humble and living a simple life with only cold water.
After we settled in the neighborhood and went on a grocery shopping adventure, we freshened up and made a toast (with sparkling apple juice) to the legacy of our new sisterhood. Then we met some students from Illnois and Pennsylvania at a local bar to ring in the new year. We were home at 12:26 which may sound early and lame, but I would like to announce that we have set a new New Year's Eve record for AU Alt. Break!
South Africa definitely doesn't put the same monetary value on New Years celebrations, but I think we have all agreed that one cultural difference is that people are more enthusiastic about the new year. Since we have been here, we are consistently greeted with "Happy New Years" and smiles! We woke up this morning at the same time that most of our friends back home were probably beginning their celebrations. After making breakfast and using one of the french presses to brew some coffee, we all piled into our Scooby-doo style stick-shift van with our trusty driver, Loyiso. The view as we drove around Table Top mountain was absolutely captivating and, before we knew it, we were at the waterfront. According to our itinerary, we were supposed to tour Robben Island; unfortunaely, the winds (which were whipping through the air at a brutal 72 km/h) were stronger than the ferry, so it was closed. The Robben Island exhibit was closed and just gave us the opportunity to shop for souveniers.
We explored Nobel Square, which commerorates the 4 "local" Nobel Peace Price winners, ate a picnic lunch by the water, and Mindy even tried a new job as a Haggen-Daz ice cream shop worker! (It didn't last long -- she ate too much of the ice cream.)
Our afternoon was quite adventerous! We went to the beach with the hopes of catching up on some reading, soaking in some summer sun, and getting a quality ocean-side nap. Well, remember those 72 km/hr winds? They were worse at the beach. Much worse. Shannon was the only one brave enough to completely submerge in the water. (crazy girl!) Mindy, Megan, and Stephanie tipped their toes in the water without the intention of getting wet, but mother nature had a different idea for us. The 12 ft. waves crashed in and not only worreid us for our lives, but also caused a sand storm! So the rest of the group stayed huddled up trying to protect any skin from the harsh beating of sand granules. Needless to say, the 2 hours we were planning to stay at the beach turned into 20 minutes.
Our journey to Cape Town so far has been a good chance to relax and get a feel for the city. Tomorrow starts off our more service-based activities! Updates to come!
Keep sending prayers and positive energy our way! Love to all xx
Photos from the Sisterhood!
Hi All!
I'm sure most of you are wondering whether the AU South African Sisterhood - your dear daughters and change-makers - are faring!
For a quick slideshow of our adventures and smiles, visit our album!
More to come about Jo'burg later - until then, much Love, Peace, and Happiness from Cape Town!
- Mindy
http://vidamindy.blogspot.com/
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