March 2019

The month of March felt really short as it was a month full of festivities as per usual at ICDM. The most important element of growing our organization being the after school education through sporting activities programs, the ICDM saw itself participating in a three day event which took place in Durban ( Glebe stadium). As part of promoting volunteer tourism and putting Isithumba on the map we saw a number of international volunteers taking part in our programs and this has become part of our organizational culture.

It is with great honor to update on the litter system project, the project is going well, the school and the tourism center have started dropping the litter in a place where we can be able to hand it to the people responsible for it collection. Most importantly all this happens with the involvement of children whom we put at the center of all our activities.

The event in Durban was organized so that different communities can participate and compete in indigenous games like Khokho, Dri stokies etc. Our kids were super excited before, during and after the event. They had to train and or prepare themselves in Oder to compete other sports clubs and academies. This, to the youngsters always seem to feel as a good challenge that they always engage fully in. Our Khokho team made it to the final, however, couldn't win the Finals. The most important part about all this for our children is the opportunity to compete and get to meet new people and know there is a bigger world out there hence our objective goal can only stand to benefit from such events. It is all thanks to our forever hard working team lead by Mazwi Msomi, Hanif Mbhele, Napa Mkhize, Noluthando Buthelezi and Nicklas Klinge.

In as much as this month felt quick to most of us at ICDM we, however, saw a lot of volunteers coming throughout the month. We hosted travelers from Germany. The ICDM hosted Janine and Hanna who really worked hard in our after school programs introducing some games from Germany and this is key to intercultural learning. The 19 year old Germans also learnt a lot from the from our well informed children. They sure improved their chess and table tennis skills during their time at ICDM. This perfect mutual and conducive learning environment is what South Africa needs towards achieving good social cohesion. Later in the month we again hosted Talita and Carmel also Germans who also had an amazing time as they claim to have learnt a lot during their time with us. Talita :" it is always amazing to see that the people who brings about real impact in your life are the people you have never imagined meeting.

The litter collection project is going well with the whole almost ready as we have managed to put concrete and almost done with the fencing. The number one goal has been achieved which was to involve the children from the beginning to the end of the project.

The programs continues and more projects will unfold. It is amazing to see our under 15 children really being part of all the activities even activities that are not about them playing and or taking part in the activities. This helps the trainers to bond and get to understand the children more. The ICDM usually closes during school holidays but this time was a different story as the children kept on coming to the ICDM premises.