Kids

Mar 18 2016

MBC Surfing Video

Hello Everybody,

My time with MBC is almost over. I think it was the best time I could wish for my stay in Cape Town. It was awesome to meet the kids and get such a good relation to them. Even if it was sometimes hard to convince them to join your plans, in the end it was always much much fun. Shame that the bus was broken. I had many ideas we couldn’t implement. But at least their most favorite activity was and is SURFING. Because of that here some impressions of our kids on their boards.

Anyway, thank you to everyone who were involved for such a awesome time in Cape town.

By muizenbergbeachclub • Uncategorized • • Tags: #CapeTown, awesometime, fun, Kids, Muizenberg, summer, sun, Surfing, Volunteer

Mar 10 2016

Hiking and Movie Night

On Friday, we took a quick break from surfing, and decided to take the boys hiking, followed by a braai (it took me quite a while to realize that means a BBQ) and movie night. The boys’ initial reaction was the same as always; ‘but we want to go surfing’. However, by the time we returned, all of them agreed how much they’d enjoyed it. We went out in search of a waterfall, which was supposedly located 6km from MBC. We hiked up Peck’s Valley at quite a pace considering how steep it was, Asi and Themba running ahead.

On arriving at the site of the illusive waterfall, we found that it had in fact dried up, leaving behind a sharp drop down the side of the mountain. The boys weren’t too phased however, and instead explored the valley, and sat admiring the views.

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We’re here, but where’s the waterfall?

The descent was not much easier than the climb up. Despite the steep and rocky path, the boys got down with ease, finding the energy to make jokes and chat as we went. Although I did slightly fear for my life as I scrambled down the mountain, the view out over Muizenberg and the sea was stunning.

Sitting round the braai

We piled back into the office, exhausted but content. Ant lit the braai and we sat round with blankets to shelter from the evening breeze. After eating a well earned dinner, we gathered round to watch the film – a documentary in which Ant took some world famous surfers around South Africa. It was full of amazing breaks and awesome tricks; the boys audibly gasping as the surfers rode barrels as effortlessly as if they were walking. Kelly Slater joined them for part of it, and his superhuman surfing and shiny silver wetsuit certainly added to the film.

Watching the movie

At the end of the evening, the boys piled into Ant’s bakkie and drove back home. The night was undoubtedly a success, with everyone leaving smiling and laughing.

By muizenbergbeachclub • Uncategorized • • Tags: #CapeTown, braai, eating, fun, hiking, Kids, mountain, Movie, Surfing, Volunteer, waterfall

Dec 27 2015

Sunshine, Sand, Surf!

School’s out for the season. The kids are on their holiday. And with more free time to surf, that is exactly what the boys have chosen to do.

After two short stops on the train ride from their home in Steenberg, the boys arrive in the morning to MBC, suit up, and spend their days and hours out at the beach. At times the boys will remember they haven’t yet had their lunch, but just as easily they’ll forget their stomach’s grumbling as the ocean calls them back into the surf.

Catching waves with the boys has been a blast! Here I am the volunteer and it’s them who have been so helpful with teaching me. They genuinely wanted to see me learn during my month here. Many times Frankie and Abel would stay nearby in the ocean and call out for me which waves I should catch. They’d yell out, “Turn your board around now! Paddle! Start paddling! Keep paddling!” Before I knew it, I was picking out my own waves and standing up more times than I could count. It’s so great to see their love for surfing and their willingness to share it with others, just as it’s been imparted to them.

Last week, taking full advantage of Muizenberg’s beautiful beaches, we organized games and fun competition for the boys, both on the sand and in the water. Frankie won both the foot race and soccer agility match. Temba came in a near second. And when it came to the surfing, everyone knew Asi would take the win. Abel, deserving a notable mention, still surfed with an injured foot. Tough boy! I had to tell him to sit it out until he knew exactly what was wrong and he finally conceded. It’s so obvious for many of these boys that being in the ocean is irresistible. Even with swollen foot, Abel admitted, “Surfing’s a part of my life. I want to be out there!”

Now as we head into the holidays, I’m bummed to say that only a few days remain before I head back home and my time at MBC comes to a close. I am so looking forward to spending this Christmas with the kids before I leave, meeting their families, and trying some local homemade South African dishes. I cannot believe how quickly this month flew by. Spending time with the boys has certainly been an honor and privilege. Each day getting to know these boys has been such a treasure, and they truly have become like my little brothers! I cannot say it enough, “Go MBC!”

By muizenbergbeachclub • Uncategorized • • Tags: #CapeTown, #MBCYouthDev, #volunteers, Charity, Children, Kids, laughing, Learn2Surf, MBC, MBC kids, Muizenberg, Muizenberg Beach Club, nature, Soccer, South Africa, Steenberg, Surf, Surfing, Volunteer, volunteering, Youth

Dec 11 2015

Wavescape Surf Film Festival

Saturday afternoon we loaded up in Ant’s bakkie and headed with the boys to Camp’s Bay for a swim and movie night on the beach. It was a first for me and so much fun riding in the back of a truck on a main highway and then at the beach digging to form sunken sand sofas to relax and enjoy the open air cinema that is part of the annual Wavescape Surf Film Festival. On Clifton 4th Beach, after finding our place up front near the big screen and once nestled cozy in our newly dug-out sand chairs, with packed sandwiches and fruit in hand (thanks to Shani!), the boys sat back and relaxed, eyes fixed on the pro surfers in the films who go and travel the world giving their lives to chasing waves. Film after film, you could see how the boys found inspiration to dream big and chase their passions. And by the end, despite it being late into the night, Asi and Toufie just wanted to jump in the water and surf.

But soon after the last short film, the crowd cleared up, and we, too, packed our things to get back home. Then came my personal favorite part of the weekend, just sitting in the back of the bakkie with the boys. As the wind out picked up, we tried to keep warm with only one blanket to go around. The ride home was entertaining to say the least. I learned Temba is great at storytelling and has quite the imagination. Whymph will bust out into song with lyrics he’ll come up with on the spot. Asi and Abel I found out share my love for sardines. Phila remains adamant on his views of pumpkin pie (I still have 2 weeks to convince him). And the rest of the ride just felt like I was hanging out with my little brothers! When we dropped off the boys at their home in Steenburg, they were keen to point out to me the nearby corner shop that serves Gatsby. It’s apparently a local favorite dish and a must try while in South Africa. It’s going to happen!!

Besides all I learned from the boys riding in the bakkie Saturday, a sweet highlight from my second week here and something that became very apparent to me was the huge heart of the man behind MBC. In these 5 years, Ant Scholte has done much more for these boys than simply introducing them to a love for surfing. He invests his heart and his time for them. He provides an outlet for these boys, where they can come feel safe, unthreatened, and carefree–just as kids should be. I see it so clearly. I see it when he gives of his weekends to rest and instead chooses to spend it with the boys. I see it when he stays back to carry their bags, boogie boards, and wetsuits when they forget. He instills values by example, tells them the hard things, and encourages them to pursue the important things. The sacrifice this man makes for these boys is humbling and inspiring! And as the boys would say, “GO MBC!!”

By muizenbergbeachclub • Uncategorized • • Tags: #CapeTown, #MBCYouthDev, #volunteers, Beach, Charity, Children, Cinema, clifton beach, film festival, gatsby, Kids, Learn2Surf, MBC, NGO, Surf, surf movie, Surfing, Surfing South Africa, Volunteer, volunteering, wavescape, Youth

Dec 9 2015

Words of wisdom: Paddle DEEP!

It’s been a great first week with the MBC boys! After the first couple days of my asking them multiple times, I’ve got each of their names and faces down.

We had three newcomers yesterday: Sumpiwe, Kanya, and Mpo. The clubs’ more experienced members, Asi and Siya, took on the role of showing them the ropes, and they did so well. I’d stayed back on the beach and it was sweet just chatting with the boys as they took their breaks at random points in the day.

You really get to see the different interactions and personalities. There’s Frankie and Siya who are close buds, yesterday joking and having fun in the sand as we talked about how Frankie would celebrate his 16th birthday. Then there’s Asi–you couldn’t get him out of the water as he kept up with the big boys in the back. Abel is wise beyond his years and so patient. At one point I found myself sitting in the middle of a friendly sandfight when Abel took a hit and all I saw was his huge smile as he laughed it off.

My first surf lessons this week came from Phila, previously an MBC member (soon to be college student!!). He’s an excellent instructor and within an hour of the first day I was standing up riding some waves. When sensing my nervousness heading into the rows of white water, he gets a good laugh and reassures that we’ll get past them. So, I press on. Paddling forward through wave after wave, sometimes I won’t see Phila, but from somewhere I’ll hear his voice calling out words of encouragement to keep me going. It works!

Today after what seemed like an impossible feat, before I knew it, I was in the backline! Finally there on the flat waters, Phila and I sat on our boards for a bit, gave our arms a rest after all the paddling, enjoyed the calm new environment and absence of white water, and then after some practice learning to sit on the board, he said, “Ready to ride a wave? Let’s do it!”

Phila picked out a wave, gave me quick last second reminders of everything to keep in mind, and then I was off on the nicest ride back to shore. I felt at that moment I could say I came, I conquered, and accomplished what I wanted coming to South Africa. There is something that makes you feel alive when you’re able to overcome even a piece of that powerful ocean. But in truth, there is so much more than catching a wave that I came here to South Africa for. I came for these amazing kids. . . in the water or not. (But yes, more in the water!)

By muizenbergbeachclub • Uncategorized • • Tags: #CapeTown, #MBCYouthDev, #volunteers, Beach, Children, fun, Kids, Learn2Surf, MBC, Muizenberg, Muizenberg Beach Club, South Africa, Surf, surf lesson, surf lessons, Surfing, Volunteer, volunteering, Youth

Nov 28 2014

Farewell for Udo

The kids know all the hikes in the region already, so they proposed to take the bodyboards and go to Smithwinkel Bay, a nice remote beach in the very south close to the Cape Point National Park.

The view from the road to the bay is magnificent: