The Last few weeks in Cape Town: In pictures

Julie Platt
Jul 22, 2015
3 min read

“Moonlight floods the whole sky from horizon to horizon; How much it can fill your room depends on its windows.” ― Rumi, The Essential Rumi

I am about to come to the end of my one year internship with Grassroot Soccer, and the way I feel cannot be put into words. Goodbyes are always hard, but are also an opportunity to really think about the people in your life and how special each of them is.

Everyone that works at GRS (interns, site staff) are the most caring, amazing, dedicated group of people I have ever had the opportunity to work with. Every person who works at GRS is there because they love the work and it shows. I will miss everyone greatly.

Some updates...

I have been lucky enough to spend a lot of time at the football for Hope Centre in khayelitsha where I have been running computer sessions with the GRS coaches. This has been by far the most rewarding thing I have done all year. Being at site, has given me a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic realities the coaches face, and how resilient, determined and hardworking many of them are.

R.V. United:

I have also been going to many RV United games!! R.V. United is the first all-female soccer team in the township of Khaylestica which has an estimated population around 1 million. Although in the states we have a well-established female sports network in most other countries no such network exists.

In South Africa, soccer is still seen primarily as a men’s sport. However, with the support of GRS, R.V. United has empowered young women in the township to play soccer. Soccer has given young women a safe space where they can be free. Just having fun may seem easy to those of us living in the US, but for many of these girls having a safe open space to just run around does not exist.

Young girls and Vuyo posting for a picture after a soccer game at the FIFA Football for Hope Centre

My favorite part of my day at site happens around 4:00 when the R.V. Juniors (a younger group of girl’s soccer players 11-12) come to the center and just play. I love hearing their laughter and voices .

Each junior on the team (see picture) has such amazing strength, and I am so lucky to have gotten to know each of them and watch them play. I am going to miss them a lot.

Laura( a fellow intern) and I showed the junior video clips of the Womens World Cup! Banyana Bayana the feamle soccer team in South Africa will def have an R.V. player on their team in a few years!!!

The quote by Rumi to some degree describes my time this year in Cape Town. Just as the moonlight can only enter a room if the windows are open, so to can new experiences only change you if you are open to them.

This year, I made it my goal to soak in each new experience here in Cape Town, and not attach meaning to them right away. Instead, I have tried to let my heart lead me instead of head. Although it can be scary at times, not listening to my inner critic or voice and instead listening to my intuition has helped me grow and mature this year.

Rockin the R.V. Gear( Thanks Anna!) and the ponder your life classic photo!

In the last few days I have left, I am going to enjoy the sweet and windy air of Cape Town and try to breath in as many memories I can before I leave.

I hope you enjoy these pictures from my last few months in cape town.

Thank you again to everyone who made this experience possible.

If you have any questions or comments about my time in South Africa please email me!

Cheers,

JP