It’s hard to start off describing an experience like this with anything else other than one incredibly appropriate word. Epic. Experiencing not only the World Cup, but South Africa at the same time was something I never could have comprehended before – or ever think about doing in my lifetime. The intense cultural atmosphere of the game mixed with the vibrant and still strong-standing history of South Africa along with it’s new look on the rest of the world as it hosted the World Cup made some seriously unforgettable moments.
This is the Diepsloot township we headed to.
I could go on and on how amazing the soccer was out there: The unforgettable US matches along with the half a dozen other games we went to, the nightlife, the people we met (locals and tourists), the traveling, and yes even the infamous vuvuzelas (which I brought home with me of course) but there were memories made that are far more vivid than any of those previously mentioned. Epicology had an experience that a lot of other companies don’t get to have first hand (or care to have, for that matter).
Such a ridiculously fun game
We got to make a difference halfway across the world. Along with hundreds of other tees, countless piles of Epicology tees were flown halfway around the world to South Africa in hopes of making a handful of kids’ days a little bit brighter. We spent a day in a township in Diepsloot, just outside of Johannesburg. The host family we stayed with hooked us up with the community that they do charity work for every month so they took us out to “mingle” with the kids (just what we were hoping for!). We met the kids, chatted with the community leaders and soon enough just got to totally mesh with the group. We played games with them, laughed with them – and yeah, we even got really, really competitive with them (but why not, right? They had skills!). Not to mention we had to learn some brand new games that we had never even heard of before (imagine a cross between Red Rover Red Rover, Dodgeball, Kickball, and Sharks and Minnows…crazy right?). Slightly hesitant of us newcomers at first joining in so eagerly with them, they were quick to open up and have us be apart of the group. It was pretty awesome. These kids were great especially when you considered the type of environment they were growing up and living in. It was hard to think that this was all they knew. It made me feel so grateful about so much in my life that always seems so easy to forget about.
Epicology tees to the kids! So sick!!
Overlooking their field, watching soccer
At the end of the games we got to thank everyone for letting us join them, talk to them, and just have a good time with them for the day. As our thank you, we brought our bags and bags of shirts over to give out. We figured they’d be pumped about it but never guessed they’d be as excited as they ended up getting. We were swarmed instantly with eager eyes and hands flying everywhere. It was a pretty overwhelming experience that we all thoroughly enjoyed. Our hundreds of tees were gone instantly – trying to hook up every kid – big and little – with a rockin tee. Whether it was an Epicology tee, or another one of my buddys’ tees (notice all the Carolina blue UNC tees!), these kids ate this stuff up. We were told that most of these kids never receive gifts from anyone. Ever. No birthdays, no Christmas, nothing of the sort – unless it’s from the volunteer workers at the community center. It made sense as to why these kids were so stoked as to something so simple as a t-shirt. Something that we take for granted every day – clean clothes. It made me want to give them my entire wardrobe. I felt like I didn’t need it anymore. I can’t even really describe how I felt. Saying it was a humbling experience doesn’t even begin to start it.
Dan with 2 new epicology rockers
As we left the community center and drove off, we all sort of looked at each other and we were all thinking the same thing: this was by far better than any game, any goal, any tourist attraction – anything. This took the cake. This was something that sticks with you for a long time. Yeah, it was just a t-shirt you could say. We weren’t building homes for them or giving them a year-supply of food. But what we did end up doing was make connections with a hundred or so kids – we made them smile and laugh and feel excited. Gave them something they never would have expected from people that they don’t even know. It was such a cool experience to be able to do something like that for someone literally halfway around the world. It was something we all agreed that we wouldn’t ever hesitate to do again.
If you’re interested in checking out organizations that participate in making a difference around the world, check out a few of the links below.
And below that you’ll see a few more pictures that we shot during our trip in Diepsloot.
Children’s Hunger Fund – http://www.chfus.org/
United Against Malaria – http://unitedagainstmalaria.org/
ONE – http://www.one.org/
1GOAL – Education for All – http://www.join1goal.org/
Join (RED) – http://www.joinred.com/splash.htm
Love146 – http://love146.org/love-story
Also, if you are EVER looking for a place to stay in South Africa near Johannesburg, and want a REAL local experience rather than being in hotels or hostels, the below link from iStopOver.com is HIGHLY recommended. Trevor, Susi, and Shannel really made our trip incredible and we couldn’t thank them more for it. You definitely won’t be disappointed.
Check it out here
One of two very big loads of gear
Community center leaders with kids
Brady getting the UNC crew goin' international
