Africa Jam

The last full day in Cape Town I went back again to Khayelitsha township. One of my friends from USD Jenny had organized this independent township visit and service project with this great Christian NGO called Africa Jam. It was started by this amazing lady Ellen, who first came to South Africa on a missions trip, and ended up falling in love, not only with the country, but with a man in one of the townships. She left her life in Minnesota, and moved to Africa, and started this organization, based around her husband’s love of music. They offer programs for children in several of the townships that introduce them to art and music, and Christian values. I loved listening to her inspiring story of starting a grassroots NGO. I am more positive than ever that my future career will be somewhere in the social programming domain.
Our project for the day was to participate in an after school drama program in Khayelitsha. What an incredible experience. When we arrived we were split into small groups, two semester at sea kids with two kids from the township. They took us around on a tour, which was great because it was so personal and we really got a chance to talk to them.

Observing the drama project itself was amazing! Once the program started, the inside of this large shack made of scrap metal was suddenly transformed into a stage, full of emotion and talent. One of the most special things I thought was how even the littlest kids were given a voice. At home and even school, the opinions and ideas of the younger kids are usually ignored, but here they could be leaders! After the entire group did a dance performance they introduced the choreographer, a 11 year old little girl, whose face was just beaming with pride. A fifteen year old boy named Earnest got up and read a poem about AIDS that just blew me away! All the different forms of creative expression were outstanding. They did one exercise where everyone would sing a song, and then after a while, two people would get up and act out what that song meant for them. It was very intense to watch, because all the interpretations were about serious issues that these kids face every day such as gangs, death, fear of arrest or of not going to school anymore. All of them were VERY good at expressing themselves and I could just feel all the powerful emotions in the room. For the next part we got go participate also. We had to act out a little skit as if we were our tour guides from earlier in the afternoon. It was funny to see what people came up with, and the kids really liked being interpreted, and recognized for their uniqueness!

The next part of the evening was a completely different, yet equally wonderful experience! Ellen had organized this amazing authentic African dinner made by the mothers of the kids from the township. We went to this incredibly beautiful house in Camps Bay (where Katie and I want to move someday) right at sunset, and just as the tablecloth of clouds was swirling over the tip of the mountain as it does every day! I don’t think I have been so overwhelmed by pure joy and beauty. Our live entertainment for the night was Ellen’s husband’s band, and the spirit behind the non-profit, Africa Jam! These guys are goooooood, they should definitely tour in the U.S. I enjoyed every second and every note! What a great time to reflect on my incredible time in South Africa!