Alumni Interview with Raphael Obertreis

What inspired you to go abroad?

I like to see new cultures. I also love to travel. My Dad went to South Africa before and he said that I had to see it. I also love adventures. I mean is there any better adventure than this?

Why did you choose Khaya’s Izizwe Township Projects Sports Coaching Program? 

Because I found Kulturlife & Izizwe on the internet. 

What was your favorite part about South Africa?

The joy and their happiness. Also the singing and dancing. 

What made your experience abroad unique?

All the wonderful people I met and the feeling that I was able to change something.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

They did a very good job. I felt safe the whole time and they showed me everything nicely.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I should have traveled more. But I think I did a lot for the short time that I was there.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

At 8:00 a.m. we had breakfast, 8:30 a.m. we would arrive at the project, and then at 10:00 a.m. we went to the first school where we would do our sport lessons and then have a short break. At 12:00 p.m. we would go to the other school and also doing sport lessons there. We would then have a lunch break. At 2:30 p.m. we would go to play basketball and then at 3:30 p.m. we would go home.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time? 

I enjoyed exercising and meeting new People.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I was supposed to have a room with other volunteers but they both left on my second day so I had a room for myself the whole time which was very nice. The Marshall house was nice. We had an awesome cook and all the people were nice.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

That there is always work that can be done and that there is no sitting around.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

It made me more aware of how good my life is—I don't have to worry because I know that there are people who are living in way worse circumstances than I do.

Why would you recommend your program to others?

Because it really helps the people there and gives you the feeling that you are changing something and you matter.

What was the hardest part about volunteering abroad?

The hardest part about volunteering abroad was that I didn’t really know what to do as I came to the project. They did not tell me exactly what to do. But that got better at the end. I knew what to do and had the feeling that I was needed, which was really important.

What surprised you most about South Africa?

The thing that surprised me most was the kindness of the children. The first day I came to the project they were all totally excited to see me, they were hugging me and high fiving me. In general, the joy of living that the people had even though they were having a bad environment.

How difficult was it to communicate with locals?

The adults nearly all spoke english so that was very easy for me. But the children almost all spoke Xhosa. They could hardly understand me. That was hard but we managed it in a good way. 

What is one thing you wish you would have known before volunteering abroad in South Africa?

The one thing I wish I would have known is that I needed to give a 100 percent every single day. I did not do that in the beginning and I regret it. I should have done that from my first day.

If you could volunteer abroad again, where would you go?

I want to travel the whole world. But South Africa is a special place for me. I think maybe in a township in Cape Town or another African country. Or even South America would be nice. There is so much to see!

What do you feel the biggest benefit of volunteering abroad is?

The biggest benefit from volunteering abroad is that you get more independent by doing it. You understand more and more how the world works. You get to see other countries, their culture, and how they live which is very nice and interesting.