Erica found a new hobby

Another incredible opportunity the group and I got to have while in Jo’burg was volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of South Africa. Though I’ve heard about this organization back home, I had never truly looked into it. I regret not getting involved with it sooner, as I found it to have such an incredible mission. The BGCSA focuses specially on the out-of-school experience during the crucial, unsupervised hours, when vulnerable, at-risk youth are neither at home nor at school. The organization, which works to provide a safe, positive, and fun after school environment, centers on youth 6-18. This then leads to an environment where the older kids serve as role models for the younger ones. The group and I were lucky enough to meet the kids and get involved with the projects they were working on. There were many activities to choose to help with- soccer, painting, crafting, and dancing. While these all sparked an interest, I decided to help with gardening, and to my surprise, found myself a new hobby!

Erica discovering a new hobby at the Boys and Girls Club in Soweto

Though I’ve helped my mom with her garden and used to work on a garden at my summer camp, I haven’t been truly involved with it for a long time. However, when I was at the Boys and Girls club, I found that I truly enjoyed it and wanted to pursue it as a future hobby. It was so rewarding to see the transformation of the garden turn from a weeded patch of dirt to a beautiful sanctuary. As I planted a few rows of basil, I found that I enjoyed getting my hands dirty and seeing the new life entering the ground. Though I wouldn’t be there to see the long-term effects of the garden, I still felt proud about my work. This sort of struck me as a metaphor for my experience here in Cape Town- a time of growth and development, nurtured and cultivated by a challenging yet supportive environment. I know that by being here for only a short amount of time, it is difficult to see the immediate effects of my work or how this experience has impacted me. However, I know that this special time will always be apart of me and has ultimately planted a seed of curiosity. I plan to continue to tend to this, just as I intend to start a garden of my own once I am back home. Peace, love, and happy earth day!