Grass Roots Soccer

On Tuesday I lead a SAS field trip with a group of 15 students to the Grass Roots Soccer non-profit located in the Khayelitsha township of Cape Town.  The goal of GRS is simple, use soccer to help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.  Here in South Africa AIDS is an epidemic of staggering proportion.  The Human Sciences Research Council, a South African institution, estimates 10.9% of all South Africans have HIV/AIDS.  There are lost generations of children who have been orphaned by both parents dying of AIDS and it's why the work going on at GRS is so important.

As our shiny luxury tour bus squeezed down the narrow township streets, I felt like we must have stuck out like a sore thumb.  These townships were where the black population was relocated to during the apartheid years of racial segregation in South Africa.  It was a dark time in the country's history and the effects still run deep in the culture.  Since the end of apartheid in 1994 things have improved but it's still an area full of shack housing, low employment and high crime.  Living conditions are rough for the majority of the population so it was a odd to see a vibrant green AstroTurf soccer field plopped down in the middle of the township.

As we exited the bus we were swarmed by excited school children eager to take our hand and guide us around.  They showed off their school with great pride.  We met the volunteer coaches who told us about the mission of GRS and why they believe in it so strongly.  The coaches are a dedicated group of local mentors and role models who help guide the younger kids, ranging in age from preschool to high school, to focus on attaining their goals and educating them on the dangers of AIDS through activity-based learning.  We presented them with the donation of a few bags of new FIFA soccer balls for their activities and then helped with afternoon activities.  We got to interact with a group of about 50 preschool kids who flooded the field with a tidal wave of energy and noise.  They were excited to use the new soccer balls but they really loved playing with my digital camera.  It's not something they are used to having access to and they especially seemed to love taking pictures and then seeing the pictures on the camera screen.  Later when I reviewed the pictures, the random pictures of the back of my head or a finger covering the lens brought a big smile to my face.

After about 30 minutes of playtime with the kids, who's joy and smiles made it seem like 30 seconds, they left us to return to their more traditional educational classes.  Our group then had the chance to talk more with the volunteers about what it's like to work for GRS and go through some of the specific drills the coaches use to teach life lessons to the students. Following a quick game of pickup soccer with the coaches, our afternoon was over and we were back on the bus and headed home to the ship.

The entire experience was incredible and the dedication and drive of the volunteers at GRS filled my heart with hope and happiness. I feel very fortunate that I was able to learn more about the great work being done at GRS and it's a day I will remember forever. Amazing that I only signed up to lead the trip last week because nobody else had volunteered.  Funny how life has a way of putting you exactly where you need to be at the right time.