We only have two more weeks here in Cape Town and I’m trying to find a way to put all my emotions, experiences and lessons into one place and try to reflect on them. It’s a lot harder than I thought it would be. Over the past few days I’ve actually been feeling really sad with the thought of leaving a place where I have learned so much. Not only have I learned about this beautiful country and town but it’s somehow allowed me to learn about myself. Since the first day at my internship I’ve been trying to figure out what role or affect would I have on such an amazing organization. These are people who have devoted their lives and are committed to a career helping children who are living and going through awful situations. What strikes me most is that fact that these employees are struggling within their households and with their own responsibilities. How is it that a twenty year old American girl can just step into this setting and expect to change any one’s life. Again, this was an issue I was trying to figure out and would just sit and think to myself on a daily basis trying to find the answer. I am so grateful that this answer has been revealed to me two weeks before my departure. Being at Olive Leaf I’ve noticed that I have been brought here to learn. Learn about this culture, the way people work with each other and how they handle the poverty and suffering around them. I have learned that I cannot simply put myself in a situation where I don’t know the common language or the way the system works and expect to change it. At first I was extremely excited to be working with the kids within the organization but as time went by I spent more days in the office and learned more from the staff than I ever would have learned on the field. They have gone through so many amazing experiences and life lessons while living in the township, these stories have changed my life. I am so glad that I am able and have come to accept that I didn’t come to South Africa to change or make Africa a better place but to take everything I have learned from the staff at Olive Leaf and use it back home. I have been exposed to conversations that I have never wanted to be part of back home, now I see the importance of them. I never would have noticed this in any other place or setting. It’s so difficult for me to put into words how grateful I am for the people I have met here. Their openness, honesty, courage and motivation to want to help one other is so encouraging. They know that they are living in awful conditions and that there is so much wealth in the world that they may never be part of but that doesn’t stop them. My strongest motivation has been seeing the young staff member’s commitment to guiding the youth in their communities. They acknowledge that these kids need older students in their lives willing to sacrifice their time to guide them in the right direction and it’s so amazing to see that happening. Tuesday will be my last day at the organization and it’s so hard for me to picture not seeing these people any more, but again I’m so glad that I can say that I’m ready to go home and share with everyone what I’ve learned from this organization and what I can do with this knowledge I’ve gained.
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