Jeffrey Prost-Greene - Sports Management and Marketing Major, University of Massachusetts Amherst
To say that SASDI changed my life would be an understatement. Not only did it change my life, but also it gave me the opportunity to help change the lives of those who are less fortunate. With so many diverse issues and so much need in South Africa, SASDI is an NGO that attempts to address all of these problems in a holistic, yet realistic and practical manner. SASDI provides its interns with a great deal of responsibility; challenging them to give their all.
With a major focus on Early Childhood Development (ECD), my team and I were given the task of developing programs as an outreach for the greater community that would be run from the ECD centre that SASDI built in the township of Mfuleni. It was a great opportunity to connect with many fascinating people from the community and to understand and appreciate the challenges they face on a daily basis. In addition, I was able to develop relationships with organisations doing exciting and important things in South Africa, and to partner with people who have worked in social/community development for many years. The most fascinating part of my experience was that no matter what other participants we talked to, it was clear that all of us were aware that what we were involved with was something so much bigger than any of us. We all tried to work collaboratively in order to understand and help people facing real struggles.
Overall, each day was its own learning experience throughout the entire internship. SASDI has caused me look at life with a new perspective.
Before participating in this internship, the problems in the world did not call me to action; thinking about them simply made me feel overwhelmed and defeated. Now, however, when I look at challenging issues, I see them as an opportunity as well as a challenge that I am eager to embrace.
All along the way, members of SASDI were constantly there for support and help. Therefore, while the problems were overwhelming, I never felt overwhelmed because people were there to help guide me. With a major focus on community and Early Childhood development, SASDI exposes interns to what real life really looks and feels like for real people. The emphasis, however, is not on the problem but rather on the solution. I believe that our efforts not only had a positive short term impact on the community, but that our work left a legacy for those who follow and remain. I know my mark will still be there for years to come. I also know that the mark my experiences left on me will be with me forever. Every one of us probably thinks or knows that we have the ability to make the world a better place for those around us. SASDI gave us the opportunity to do it!