On Dec. 1, our Canada World Youth team from the Sunshine Coast left, departing on a two-day trip to South Africa for the second phase of our trip.
While there were many sad and tearful goodbyes at the Langdale ferry terminal, the 18 of us were eager and excited for the second phase of the program.
We arrived in Cape Town on Dec. 3 and spent a few days in a camp before moving in with nine new host families in H and I sections of Khayelitsha.
As on the Coast, host families were warm and welcoming. However, this time we have also greatly enjoyed living very close together. The two furthest teams live a maximum 15-minute walk apart from each other. The community is vibrant, and everyone is adjusting well. A warm Christmas and holidays were enjoyed with a host family braai (or barbecue) a first for most of the Canadians.
Due to the ongoing festive season in South Africa, work placements are just getting started now in January, and everyone is excited to get started. In the meantime, we have been keeping busy.
The first few weeks were spent getting settled and celebrating the holidays. We have helped out in Khayelitsha's social development services processing government grants and in a community garden, and we participated in workshops and visited Cape Town and surrounding area.
In the next few weeks, the group has planned a few activities on top of working four days a week at work placements. We are working on a games day for local elementary schools, and planning a volunteer recruitment strategy for high schools. The group is still discussing what to do with the $1,400 raised through our performance of The Playground in Gibsons Heritage Playhouse at the end of November.
Thank you once again to everyone who contributed and came out to see it. We will be sure to let the Sunshine Coast community know what comes from their generosity.
