My Global Change Experience with Dreams to Reality

My Global Change Experience with Dreams to Reality in South Africa A HEROIC EPIC

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 Sports

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 Iviwe Sixolo Tim Murray

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 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 -5 hr 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