Wow! It seems like just the other day we were preparing for our first full day of leadership lessons, activities and meals (and plenty of snacks) at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg. While our 21 days together may have flown by, the memories we created will be everlasting. At this point you’re probably back in school or starting your first year in college but we wanted you to know that we are still thinking about each of you and the time we shared in South Africa.
You should feel confident that you truly made a lasting impact this summer. Your one-on-one attention to the students at Honey Bee’s has surely helped prepare the learners for success. Your patience, passion and caring nature was evident each day we spent alongside those sweet faces. You will be remembered not only by our beautiful garden mural but by the songs, dances, crafts, lessons and silent cheers we taught them. We imagine that Jayden, Dean and Witness are still stomping around in the sand singing the Penguin Song (channeling their inner Vishnu)!
Not only did we learn how to lead in the classroom but we were fortunate to learn more about great leaders in the past and present that are changing the lives of those around them. Through our tour around Soweto, spending time at Robben Island and serving on Mandela Day we learned about the legacy of Nelson Mandela. With our discussion at Nude Foods and samples of Olive Bread, we learned more about how each of us can take an issue that’s important and create real change in our community. Partnering with the SAVE Foundation and hearing from Carla taught us all about the ins and outs of running a non-public organization.
We can’t forget to mention all of the fun we had together! Each of you brought your own uniqueness to our trip making this summer so amazing. We experienced South African culture by preparing a meal at Bo-Kaap, touring around Cape Point by boat, bike and foot, shopping at Green Market and the V&A Waterfront, hiking Lions Head and Table Mountain, visiting Thali Thali and learning more about the San People and District 6.
We worked really hard and also had a blast together. Whether it was playing games at night, eating Colls delicious food, singing songs in a circle or exploring new places together, it was that much fun because we were able to share it with all of you—the 2018 South African Social Change group! Thanks for bringing your positivity, passion, leadership, laughter and creativity every day! We will never forget the memories we made in such an amazing country!
Some Special Moments from our trip:
Vishnu teaching Ryan Yap, Carson and Okome a history lesson on the Cold War.
Emerson leading an ab workout upstairs with Sage, Sara, Ananya and Ryan Durbin!
Boating, biking (in the rain) and hiking around Cape Point (Look at all those chickens)
Eating tons of snacks with Lucy, Silvia and Pilar (remember those 5+ cinnamon rolls)
Devouring lots and lots of Biltong and asking to go to the mall to buy more!
Intense late night games of Monopoly!
Cheers,
Brianne and the South African Team
Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our 2019 programs, or enroll now.
