21st November 2024
South Devon College students had the trip of a lifetime when they visited Cape Town in South Africa. They were told before they left ‘it will be a journey of self discovery and adventure that will take you to extraordinary places, introduce you to unforgettable people, and change you in ways you can’t even begin to imagine.’
To quote South Devon College staff member Nicole Matthews – “Boy was that true!”
The eye-opening and emotional visit saw them taking part in a sports project in a township, coaching girls’ football, and visiting local landmarks, all whilst gaining a different perspective on life and re-evaluating priorities.
Getting into the football theme immediately, the students passed the time by watching the Turkey Euros football game on the 11-hour flight from Istanbul to Cape Town!
The students went out to Cape Town with the aim of developing their coaching and communication skills, whilst expanding their international travel experiences, as well as boosting their knowledge and awareness of different cultures.
The students worked on a sports project in one of the most underprivileged townships in Cape Town – Khayelitsha, which translates from Xhosa as ‘new home’ as it was built under the principle of racial segregation executed by the Government.
Covering 43.51 square kilometres, it is in the top five largest slums in the world, housing 2.4 million people, with 50% of them being under the age of 19. Around 70% of the residents live in tin shacks and there are 1,976.31 households per square kilometre.
The most common language spoken is Xhosa, but a lot of the inhabitants can speak five or six languages so the students were able to communicate with them in English with ease.
Student Mackenzie Green said: “We met so many people from so many different backgrounds and we were able to learn from that. I learned how important communication is, as well as cultural appreciation.”
The students worked with the IKASI Soccer School whose mission is to provide young women in the community with space and safety, with a programme designed to build confidence and develop their passion for sport.
In Cape Town sport is not featured in the educational curriculum yet, as the students realised, the local youngsters are thoroughly committed to sport, and they even educated our students on a different, much more physically demanding form of star jumps!
With values of Education, Equality, and Empowerment, the IKASI Soccer School was established in 2018 because there are not many options for safe spaces for young girls in South Africa and especially in a township like Khayelitsha.
Dumi, Founder of Ikasi Soccer School, said: “We nurture young girls through a holistic programme, so we train these girls each and every single week for the entire year, with academic support with Maths and English, as well as football training and nutritional information.
“We are all unemployed so receive no wage, but we love what we do and to see the girls smile and being joyful makes it fulfilling for us.
“We are developing scholarships and tutoring so we can develop a better next generation for our society.”
Student Roham Sheikhvand said: “This trip impacted me by making me more grateful for the things I have, as going to the IKASI soccer school and seeing all the amazing children so happy, while having so little, is a really positive reality check for me. I know I’ve got the opportunities, freedom and safety to do what I want, making me learn harder to seize this, as a lot of others don’t get this chance.”
As well as visiting the townships, the students made trips to landmarks such as Table Mountain and the Lion’s Head, which involved climbing vertical rocks and ladders!
They spent a day travelling along the coast, seeing penguins at Penguin Island, which was a highlight, as well as visiting the Castle of Goodhope and the Slave Lodge Museum. The Paignton-based students were struck by the disparity in Cape Town, with smart areas with good infrastructure, yet the other side of the mountain is very different, with townships and poverty.
Student Erin Mooney said: “I’ve learnt the importance of supporting one and other through seeing how connected the community can be and by adopting this culture they are all grateful and content with what they have.”
They also had a tour of another township called Langa, where they took part in a drumming lesson, and were invited to dinner at tour guide Thulani’s family home.
Student Aiden Bovey said: “My main highlight of the trip was the community tour. This is because I am interested in how other people live on a day-to-day basis and really helped to enhance my awareness of other people and different cultures.
“It made me feel fortunate and like we should all do more to help other people around us as we all deserve the same the same treatment. I want to return to offer more of my help and support for those living in the most underprivileged parts.”
There was also a focus on sustainability and the students saw a massive difference between the resources we have in the UK in comparison to what they have in Cape Town and how they utilise them – it was noted they are very creative with what they have.
Student Corey Luscombe said: “One of the highlights of the trip was having the opportunity to coach and teach underprivileged children who deserve to have the chances in life as we do.
“I am extremely grateful to explore a whole new country with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and a great bunch of people. I will forever cherish the moments I had in Cape Town and I have been looking at going back out to do the same thing when I finish college. It’s given me a whole new perspective on life.”
Emily Ward, Learner Progress and Attendance Coach at South Devon College, who attended the trip as a staff member, said: “My experience in South Africa was truly eye-opening, and a humbling experience. Not just for me, but for the learners who had the opportunity to immerse themselves in a vibrant and diverse culture.
“The trip was an incredible chance to step outside of our comfort zones and witness firsthand how people live in different parts of the world. This helped the learners gain a deeper understanding of the cultures, traditions and values of South Africa. This was an unforgettable experience.”
Teacher Nicole Matthews, Lecturer in Re-engagement at South Devon College who accompanied the students, said: “It was genuinely the most humbling grounding experience and is naturally very emotive. Some of these girls from the township walked up to 5km without shoes once a week to play football and receive a nutritious meal.
“We are really keen to get back out there – there is such a need out there and we’d love to help. The staff at IKASI don’t get paid and they don’t receive any Government funding – we have a lot of kit and they have nothing, so we’d love to take some out there to help them. We’d like to give back.”
The project was made possible through the Turing Scheme programme, the Government-funded project offering global travel and enrichment opportunities to students to boost their life skills and relevant career options, during work or study placements.
The staff and students involved in the trip are now actively looking for sponsorship to facilitate their return to South Africa to deliver clothes and equipment to the IKASI programme.
