a heroic epic

A HEROIC EPIC

My Global Change Experience with Dreams to Reality in South Africa

The Journey to Heroism:

Destination: Cape Town, South Africa Duration: 4 weeks (Oct. 7-Nov.1) Organization: Dreams to Reality

Foundation Volunteer Placement: Steenberg

Primary Service Area: Sports Development Service Work: Develop and

Implement Sports curriculum for grades 1-7 ‘physical training’ time.

38 hrs travel time from door to door

Dreams to Reality Foundation Code Name: DTR Staff: 12 Founders: Tim Murray & Iviwe Soxolo Average No. of Volunteers: 30-50 per

month Service Sites: 6

Christian David Primary Steenberg Primary 3 Childcare Centers Surf School/Shop

DTR (CONT.)

Communities Served Muizenburg Steenberg Capricorn Township Cape Town

Areas of Service Teaching (Math & Literacy Tutoring) Child Care Sports Development Surf Program

Programs in Action

Childcare

SURF

Sports

TEACHING

Mission & Vision

Dreams To Reality Foundation aims to provide volunteers with quality, flexible, safe and highly affordable volunteering placements in South Africa. In addition to providing aid and assisting disadvantaged communities, our vision is to increase education and create awareness through the skills and expertise offered by volunteers from their selected communities and institutions, but also through the experiences and lessons volunteers will in turn take back to their own countries and cultures.

DTR Past, Present, Future

The Founders

Tim Murray

Iviwe Sixolo

Past

Tim & Iviwe worked at organization prior together prior to starting DTR.

They were not fans, so they ventured into business together.

Started the organization in 2010. Areas of Service: Surf Program Adoption of Christian David Primary

Institution of Food and Sports programs

Present

In 3 years time, growth of staff from 2-12

Volunteer Program Housing/Transport established

Rapid Expansion: Steenberg Primary partnership Surf School Holiday Programs- Summer/Winter Break Childcare Center adoptions

Future

Addition of more After-School Programming More permanent rotation of

opportunities Obtain NPO status for government

funding Increase number of Volunteers Stabilize programming Expand to more communities Increase Marketing & Branding

visibility Focus more on Business-oriented

Education

DTR Breakdown

Organization Type: Foundation Funding Source: Donations &

Program fees Status: undocumented Affiliates: International Volunteer

Headquarters (IVHQ) Majority of Volunteers come from IVHQ IVHQ determines program fees Branding & Marketing handled by IVHQ

Breakdown (cont.)

Volunteers can stay between 2 weeks and 6 months ( more upon approval)

Volunteer Experience more catered too than DTR programming due to source of funding

Volunteers work a 4-5hr program day then are free to do as they please

All meals provided Accomodations provided

Take-Aways

Programming suffers due to ‘catering’ attitude

Expansion happened too rapidly for a ‘brand new organization’

Lots of room for opportunity and growth Marketing & Branding require more work IVHQ dependency potentially detrimental Lack of funding sources a hinderance

BUT… has promoted resourcefulness

Highlights of the Trip

Visiting the Childcare Center Shark Cage Diving Lion Walk Elephant Walk Safari Robben Island- Nelson Mandela’s Cell Kayamandi Town Ship Cocoa Fair Implementing Heroes to the Core

Heroes to the Core in SA

3 Day pilot program with Grade 2 http://vimeo.com/78325439 Program Elements:

Character Building Super vs. real Life Heroes- recognition of community,

peers and self Self-exploration & empowerment Hero-Making

Response: Success Teachers enjoyed it Principal Loved it DTR intends to continue the program