Our initial days in South Africa have been truly remarkable! For the past couple of days, we’ve had the privilege of working with bright young minds at an elementary school in a local township, engaging with students in grades 4 and 6. While we adhere to a policy of not using phones or taking pictures with the children at the school, the memories created are vividly etched in our minds.
Smiling woman, likely a teacher or volunteer, headshot
To break the ice and foster a comfortable learning environment right from the start, we initiated each class with an interactive game. This involved forming a large circle and having everyone introduce themselves by stating their name, favorite animal, and favorite dance move. It was during this lively introduction that we discovered something incredibly surprising and heartwarming – the immense popularity of the “Nae Nae Dance” among these young South African students. Alongside “The Dab,” the “Nae Nae,” from the popular track “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae),” was overwhelmingly the favorite dance move. Witnessing these young children in South Africa so enthusiastically embrace and be completely up-to-date with American pop culture and contemporary trends was a genuinely delightful and unexpected cultural moment.
Beyond the fun and games, our sessions were designed to touch upon important life skills, particularly the significance of setting personal goals. To initiate this crucial conversation, we posed a simple yet profound question to the children: “What do you aspire to be when you grow up?” The responses we received were not only varied but also deeply inspiring. A significant number of students expressed a heartfelt desire to become social workers in the future. Learning that these 11-year-olds already harbored aspirations to contribute positively to their communities and country was truly moving and filled us with optimism. Other popular career choices voiced by the children included becoming a soccer player, doctor, teacher, and singer, showcasing a wide range of dreams and ambitions.
So to kick start the discussion we would ask the kids: What do you want to be when you grow up?
My personal highlight of each day was undoubtedly the moments when our classes concluded, and it was time to transition to the next classroom. As we began to leave, the children would immediately rush towards us, enveloping us in warm hugs, offering enthusiastic high fives, and playfully attempting to prevent our departure. These spontaneous displays of affection and connection were genuinely heartwarming and undoubtedly among the most endearing experiences I’ve ever encountered.
We are eagerly anticipating the commencement of our next project tomorrow, and excitement is running high among our team. Stay tuned for more updates on our South African adventure!
