06/07/2020
EXPERIENCE REPORT
of Florian, who was part of Bitou Family Care
between 2011-2012.
My time as a volunteer in South Africa. The start of a new life.
I can still remember August 22nd, 2011. I had successfully completed my school career about 2 months earlier and entered South African soil for the first time that day. At that time I could not have imagined that a friendship would develop for life between me and this beautiful country, despite all the contrasts and inequalities that exist there. At that time, I did not know that I would continue to be drawn to the Cape region on a regular basis in the future and that I would even get to know my dream woman there. It all started with a voluntary service at Bitou Family Care, which is based in the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay.
David had come to South Africa with me. We were completely unknown to each other at the beginning, but we knew that we had to get along in a tight space for the next 12 months. However, as it turned out very quickly, this should never be a problem.
As mentioned above, we landed on August 22, 2011 with a machine from British Airways in Johannesburg, from where we than would travel on with a plane of South African Airways towards the coast. The small but crowded airport in George was our goal. I will never forget how I looked out of the window during the landing and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountain range below. It wasn't until much later that I learned that this hilly landscape is known as the Outeniqua Mountains. In the language of the first inhabitants of South Africa, the khoisan, outeniqua means "men who carry honey".
When we had African soil under our feet again, the time had come to finally get to know our leaders, Stephan and Elisabeth Wenz. They picked us up at the airport and we made our way to Plettenberg Bay. The course for the coming year was already set during the 60-minute journey. Stephan and Elisabeth told us about the work that awaits us and gave us an insight into the daily routine. I was very pleased when Stephan asked me if I could imagine building a football team in Kurland. Since I already had coaching experience and was already very interested in working with young people, I agreed without hesitation.
I really enjoyed working at Bitou Family Care right from the start. David and I looked after the children at Bitou Family Care's Fosterhomes, assisted with their homework, planned leisure activities with them, collected food donations in the city and supported the housemothers in their homes with the daily work with the children. We also helped run the Kids Clubs. Furthermore, as already mentioned, I was busy building a soccer team for young people in the township Kurland Village. The goal of the project was not only to train good footballers, but rather to build young adults with a first-class character who resist the temptations of everyday life, which consist mainly of violence and drug use. This task was very time consuming but also incredibly fulfilling. At the beginning I had around 30 players on the field, but over time a solid core of 15 players emerged. I started to publicize the project in Germany and received sensational support. My home club sent 5 large packages to South Africa. Jersey sets, soccer balls and soccer shoes were in it. The project started to take shape. A local newspaper from Herrenberg published an article about the project and even VfB Stuttgart offered to help. On weekends we organized soccer games against other teams from the area. The away games in particular were always a highlight. The boys made tremendous progress in football and the first victories were soon achieved. Friendships also developed between the players outside the field.
I personally could only benefit from my stay abroad. I am now a lot more relaxed than before my time in South Africa. It is no longer important whether the train arrives on time in the morning or is late. You have to take it as it comes and make the best of it. The fact that we have the opportunity to take the train every day is actually a blessing. We have to learn again to appreciate the things we have here in Germany and not to take them for granted. Nothing can be taken for granted. Not the train, not the daily meals, and not the security that most people here in Europe can enjoy.
I am still impressed by the warmth and gratitude of the South Africans. I remember an older gentleman well. He spoke to me when I was on my way to daily training. He said thank you to me. Thank you for what you do for our youth. A simple sentence that means so much. In Germany, hardly anyone says thank you for taking a volunteer position. Many people there take it for granted to stand on the training ground three times a week and to sacrifice free time, so other children can play football . The warmth, the gratitude, the serenity and the relationships are the reason why I always return back to South Africa. There are friendships that even the big distance cannot harm.
Today I am a social worker. The basis for all of this was layed 9 years ago during my time in Plett. A big thank you to Elisabeth and Stephan Wenz and the Bitou Family Care organization for this amazing time. It has changed my life.
