Identify an
issue
Decide what
you will do
Commit a minimum of 24 hours to this work.
Collaborate with one or more other students on projects.
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Previously students have constructed and implemented an amazing array of successful projects. One of the organizations with which students have worked is the Firefighters Football Club which was established in 1998 in
Khayelitsha, the largest black township in Cape Town with a population of close
to 800,000 people. The football club is located in Mandela Park and has 5 youth teams: under 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19, as well as one senior team. Firefighters FC athletes
are leaders on and off the field. Participating players meet after school for
peer education sessions. They work on everything from homework help, to
presentation skills, to college preparation. Firefighters Football Club is about
character building, about raising young men who will be positive role models
for the next generation and will strive to make a positive impact in their
communities.
Over the years students have worked this club to: help with their tournaments; develop and write up their strategic plan; collect slightly used soccer cleats from family and friends; work with the coaches; and set up their website <http://firefightersfc.com/Firefighters_Football_Club/Home.html>
This year 5 students (Allie, Emily W, Jenna, Katrina, & Morgan) are working with players on life skills and tutoring as well as raising funds to buy water jugs for the teams and water bottles for individual players. You can read more about their project below and anyone who would like to support their efforts may do so at their GoFundMe site: http://www.gofundme.com/7qtgp4
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In our semester studying abroad here in Cape Town, South Africa, 5 of us students have started volunteering at the Firefighters Football Club, a local boys' soccer club in Khayelitsha, one of the poorest townships in Cape Town. The club is located in an area consumed by poverty with minimal sports and recreational infrastructure. Because of this, children are highly vulnerable to gangsterism and drug use. The club was created as a way to begin to address these issues within the community and provide them with a safe and fun alternative while learning vauable life lessons through their coaches and teammates.
After spending the last few weeks getting to know the boys and watching their practices, we noticed something was missing. Even after hours of running in the hot sun there was not one water break, not one kid had a water bottle, and at the end of practice they eagerly guzzled down what little water we'd brought with us. After talking with Bongi, the team's coach, we realized what a huge difference providing water coolers and a water bottle for each of the players would make. Our goal in our remaining time with Firefighters is to continue to get to know, play with, and tutor the players as well as raise money to provide them with the water bottles and coolers. We also plan on helping out at the Firefighters tournament by giving the kids support, as barely any of their parents come, as well as provide water and food seeing that it is an all day event.
Despite having close to nothing, these kids' hard work and dedication has inspired us. We hope to use whatever money we raise towards getting new equipment, gear, and improving their fields. Any small amount will make a huge difference and the kids and coaches will be so grateful. Go Firefighters!
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One of the wonderful things about social media is how many people can be reached simply by sharing information with facebook friends. If you find this to be a worthwhile cause perhaps you could share it with your facbook friends along with a personal message as was done by my daughter-in law Betsy, who has been to Cape Town and had the pleasure of personally meeting Bongi and the Firefighters:
Anongile Qasana and his
firefighter's football club are what grassroots change is all about. He
inspires youth to change themselves and their community, all while having fun.
I know some of my fellow soccer parent friends can connect to watching
kids play soccer and grow in confidence, and many of my social justice
friends might be inspired to get the word out. http://www.gofundme.com/7qtgp4
Or as by Dan who participated in this program in 2012 and did his activist project as well as spenting countless additional hours working with Firefighters:
Anyone who has heard me talk about
Cape Town knows how influential Bongi and his soccer club, the Firefighters Football Club,
were to me. This year's study abroad students have continued working with the
team and are working to raise funds to buy the athletes water bottles. Yes,
something as simple as water bottles are a commodity in the township the boys
are from. If you were ever an athlete and know what it's like to play in
the hot summer sun, consider supporting their
initiative. http://www.gofundme.com/7qtgp4
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