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Volunteer Program - What previous volunteers say |
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Volunteer Program - What previous volunteers say |
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Volunteering in South Africa or The best time of my life by Lena Frantzen from Germany, a volunteer with The Future Factory in 2007
“On your marks, get set, GO!” As soon as I blow my whistle, twenty kids run through the obstacle course we set up before the lesson had started. With some cones, a few robes and two balls we filled most of the lessons and made children of all ages sweat. Still – most of them enjoyed it: “Coach, can I hug you” was just one way to express their joy. The daily life fast became a routine. In the morning, we waited to be picked up by Annie or one of the coaches – one or the other time waiting meant to sit there for hours – but we got used to that quickly. Sometimes we took the Minibus to a school, an adventure I don’t want to have missed. With the bus crowded, music playing, and the bass turned up as loud as possible, even breathing was hard. We then went to our different schools where we taught – after a warm-up – different types of sports, especially running and ball skills. The favourites of almost every student were Dutch- ball, Netball and – World Cup 2010 can come – Soccer. It was such a pleasure to work with the kids. Our days of work ended around 3 p.m. and we then spent most of our day at home in the Martin family. The Martins are a really nice family and made us volunteers feel welcome. I take this chance, to say “Thank you” to them again! Around 6 p.m. we had supper, which was always very “lekker”. An evening in the pub or a trip to a soccer game of the national team was a highlight of the “family-time”. On the weekends, we met with our friends to spend the days in Cape Town or to explore other nice places in South Africa, like the Garden Route, Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park. This way we saw a lot of the country and got to love it even more! Even weeks after returning home, I still go with the South African pace and there are so many things that still remind me of my time in South Africa, coaching sports with The Future Factory, living with the Martins and experiencing a country and culture which fascinated me in every way. I just didn’t take lots of photos to take home with me; I also have thousands of pictures in my head and in my heart – forever. And one thing is for sure: This was my first time in South Africa, but definitely not my last!
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Rasmus Jensen
Why did you decide to volunteer in South Africa? To try something totally new. To try to be on my own. To experience something totally strange from home (Europe) What was the best part of your volunteer experience? The people I met!!!! So fantastic - can’t describe it!! When you get the feeling of reaching the children . . . Just one of these experiences made the trip worth it. You learn much more about the culture and history by talking with the people you are working and living with than any travel with a big company could give you. But you still can make a good trip by yourself. How did your volunteer experience change you/help you out? Money is not everything, love is! The biggest culture shock I got was when I came home. You learn to put value on small things in life. You learn how rich we are living in Europe, and how beautiful it is to help other people who really need it. Summa summarum: Your mind is making you a better person, which maybe by doing that you might change a little, maybe.....:) What advice would you give to future volunteers? Value for money!! Take longer than one month. Do it- it will be an experience that will be in your soul forever. Expert some disorganisation sometimes, but it is what you paid for- to see something totally different, so get the best out of it! “Support The Future Factory, they support your kids”
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Veronica
Valstad Skikkelstadødegård
Why did
you decide to volunteer in South Africa?
I learned a
lot about myself, just to travel to the other side of the world was a
little challenge to do all by my self. But I think it is a very clever
thing to do, you learn about so much and experience things you will
remember for the rest of your life! I know I will !
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Friederike Dinse From: Germany Date of Volunteer Time in South Africa: October – December 2006
Why did you decide to volunteer in South Africa? Because it’s a beautiful country I have always been interested in, especially Cape Town. I wanted to find out more about the people, their culture and how their life is after Apartheid. Especially because it’s far away from Germany, which doesn’t mean you are far away from Germans too ;-) What was the best part of your volunteer experience? To see how easy it can be to make the children’s live a bit better and to meet, work and live with people from all over the world. How did your volunteer experience change you/help you out? I realised how lucky I am to have the opportunity of higher education, sports , musical education and travelling etc. I definitely grew personally through situations that occurred during my time in SA. What advice would you give to future volunteers? - Use sunscreen!!!!( even if its cloudy) - Go out on weekends - Go travelling - If Annie is picking you up, just get dressed and go back to bed ;-) - Try to be patient! - Just blow: don’t think about it ( If you stay with the Martins you will understand!) - Don’t worry too much about anything, just enjoy your time because it will be over too soon. “For me it was the best decision I could have made after finishing school”
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Pia Kaufmann From: Switzerland Date of volunteer time in South Africa: January – March 200707
“It was a really great time. Especially the family Martins :-). They are so lovely and the children at the schools too. It was a funny experience in Cape Town, and I would like it to do again. I have just to say for the new volunteers: be open and enjoy!!!"
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Marcel van Vliet From: The Netherlands Date of Volunteer Time in South Africa: October – December 2007 Why did you decide to volunteer in South Africa? It is an interesting country regarding history (linked to the Dutch), beauty and of course the need to participate in order to make a difference to the lives of the needy. What was the best part of your volunteer experience? To be able to make contact with the children, to make them enthusiastic with the games that you are playing with them and to show them your approach, which is a positive one. Most of all the smiles on their faces, their positive remarks on the time you spent with them gave me wonderful memories. How did your volunteer experience change you/help you out? It proved to me that no matter your economical status, people are still happy as long as they have positive relations with other people. What advice would you give to future volunteers? Have patience in the work you do, do not expect to make a change straight away. It will come anyway, no doubt about that.
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Mark Visser From: The Netherlands Date of volunteer time in South Africa: October – December 2007
Why did you decide to volunteer in South Africa? After finishing my university degree, I would not think about working the rest of my life. Since I saw a documentary on television half a year before my departure about South Africa (Robben Island, wild animals, etc.) my interest in South Africa was created. Combining this by meeting new people from a different culture and off course the weather! made it for me an easy choice to book a ticket to the most southern country of Africa: South Africa! What was the best part of your volunteer experience? The combination of meeting local African people, a new culture, and new habits. Considering the volunteer work, the happiness the children show on their faces after certain sport events. A lot of children really enjoy the time you spend with them, and I enjoyed the time I spent with them. How did your volunteer experience change you/help you out?: The voluntary work itself did not change me that much, more the things I saw by doing voluntary work. Being a European is my luck, and while meeting the locals you realise that there are other people in the world that do not have the same opportunities and challenges you have. Food and going to school is not usual for all the children, and realising that it is quiet sad for those children. What advice would you give to future volunteers? Create your own opportunities. By being assertive you can get the most out of your time there. Ask a sports coach to play a Dutch game with them, do the warming-up etcetera. Next to volunteering for the Future Factory, and again being assertive, while working for the Future factory you have the opportunity to see so many special things other volunteers will not see; walking in the townships where no guided tours will come, meeting the locals from poor to rich, dancing on Jazz-music…. Thus my free advice: be assertive!!
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Anja Köhler From: Germany Date of volunteer time in South Africa: September – October, 2007
"Since I was younger I was fascinated by Africa. So there would be no other country for me to go than South Africa. I love it. You need some time to come in and flow into the African time but then you will start into a great time with lots of fun, a beautiful nature, exciting moments and the most important thing you meet wonderful people and find new friends. This was the best for me, the people of South A frica - getting in contact with so many local people...the Martins, Annie, coaches and teachers at school and soooo many more. You will love them for sure. South Africa taught me just to live and never give up. Enjoy every day and "feel the rhythm of Africa". I had a wonderful time in South Africa, I will never forget it and I am sure I will go back again one day. Just do it!!!"
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Tanya Dupagne From: Australia Date of volunteer time in South Africa: September – November 2005, June 2006 – March 2007, September – October 2007
Why did you decide to volunteer in South Africa? I’d done a lot of travel in other countries, but South Africa was always on my list of places to go. After a discussion with a friend, I made a split second decision to do it! What was the best part of your volunteer experience? Definitely the people! I have made so many friends from around the world, not to mention the South Africans. I gained a South African mom, a South African family, and a whole other home. The schools are also great, having 300 kids jump on you – at the same time – is an experience you won’t get anywhere else! How did your volunteer experience change you/help you out? I’ve now been back to South Africa 3 times, and because I do all the admin and lots of fundraising from Australia, my life pretty much revolves around The Future Factory. My phone company loves it when I am back in Oz as they make a fortune in text messages and phone calls! But more importantly, I’ve made some fantastic friends. And learned to dance “Cape Town Style” and now have the kids here doing it too (who said white Australians couldn’t dance!!)
What
advice would you give to future volunteers?
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Niki Freund From: Germany
Date of
Volunteer time in South Africa:
September – December 2007
Besides all
the experiences I made at the Martins, with Anne, Michael, Mario and other
coaches and volunteers, I remember one day at Pelican Park Primary
School. I was responsible for grade 7 all the day. I decided to give them
several teambuilding-exercises and we also talked about feelings and
emotions. I never expected these boys and girls to be so serious and open.
We created an atmosphere that made some of the girls and even the boys,
including me, starting to cry...
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Katharina
Kuetter
Why did you decide to volunteer in South Africa? I was interested in the country, the culture, and especially the people and the way they live. What was the best part of your volunteer experience? To get to know a lot of people and kids and have a lot of fun with them. How did your volunteer experience change you/help you out? Oh it is hard to find the right words, just make your own experiences!!! What advice would you give to future volunteers? Enjoy your time! Although sometimes the things seem to be hard - it just seems that way;-) “I will go back!!!”
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Mascha Fiebeck
Why did you decide to volunteer in South Africa? Beautiful country, interested in the history What was the best part of your volunteer experience? New friends How did your volunteer experience change you/help you out?: You see a lot of things in a different way now and you know that many things that seemed important are not as important anymore, more self-confidence, new friends What advice would you give to future volunteers? Don't take things too seriously and don't expect too much attention
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