Capetown trip, South Africa 2008
You could be part of a YFC team spending 3 weeks in Capetown, South Africa, next summer. By adding a summer visit to your programme, you will have an opportunity to share in the lives, hopes, worship and witness of Christians in another culture. This is a great opportunity to broaden your experience of youth work and cross-cultural mission, to learn more about the global church and your own faith, and learn about key issues from those who are directly affected. South Africa is a spectacular and complex country, still in the process of defining its post-apartheid identity. Its vast land area – larger than The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany combined – means it has a range of geographies. In part, South Africa has a sophisticated economy based on manufacturing, mining and financial services, but it also has an economy consisting of the very poor who eke out a living through near-subsistence agriculture or the informal sector.
Next summer’s visit is an opportunity to visit Capetown, a beautiful city in the south west of the country. Capetown is notable for its striking backdrop, Table Mountain, its beaches, vineyards and rugged landscapes.
Yet this trip is not a holiday for tourists. This visit is an opportunity to see and learn what is happening at a grass-roots level as you spend time with local Christians and engage in cross-cultural mission. Your programme is currently being arranged by YFC Capetown, and will include involvement in various aspects of youthwork in the area, discussion groups with South Africans from different ethnic groups, schools’ work, township visits, and time spent in a rural community. It will be a great opportunity to see and engage with different projects, discover what Christians are involved in, and make new friendships.
Youth for Christ aims to:
- Enable you to learn through experience about God, the global Church and mission
- Give you a broader understanding of youth and mission in a cross-cultural context.
- Encourage you to go with a serving attitude primarily to learn from our hosts rather than the attitude of primarily doing something for them or giving something to them.
- Help you make new friends, sharing in the lives of African people from different backgrounds and cultures
- Enable you to reflect on the experience so that you can apply what you have learnt to other mission situations.
- Encourage you to share your experience and learning with your home church.
- Encourage and challenge you to think about what it means to develop a mission lifestyle, and consider longer-term involvement in cross-cultural mission.
When is the visit?
It will be for 3 weeks between the dates of 18 July – 9 August 2008 approximately, subject to flight availability.
What will I do? The focus will be on learning more about God, mission and the global Church, mainly through meeting, sharing, and working alongside local Christians. You will take part in a range of interesting activities – including practical hands-on youth work, learning about the history & culture of South Africa and visiting different churches and communities in the Cape Town area. There is also time to try out your bartering skills in a market and see the breathtaking view from Table Mountain.
Rolf Weichardt, the Director of Cape Town YFC says: ‘We are passionate about reconciliation between cultures & ethnic groups through the message of Christ. International volunteers enrich our programme with their passion to serve the disadvantaged. We love having them in our centre as they not only enrich the lives of the young people they serve but also the lives of the staff and workers – bring them over!’
Naomi, one of last year’s team members commented: ‘It wasn’t just a 3-wk mission, it was a life-changing experience in which God massively impacted me emotionally and spiritually. It also helped shape my future’;
Who will I go with?
You will be placed in a team of 6-8 who are Christians between the ages of 18-30. In addition, the team will have leaders who have experience of working in a mission context, usually within another culture overseas. You will join in with volunteers from Cape Town YFC giving you chance to work in a multi-national team, serving God together.
How much will I have to raise?
The cost is approximately £1400, and is largely subject to flight costs. This includes your flight, travel in location, accommodation, food and training. Your medical/vaccination costs, insurance and travel to the training weekend are not included. You will also be responsible for obtaining your own personal spending money. A deposit payment of £100 is due with your application form as soon as possible, and subsequent payments are made in instalments in March, April, May, allowing you time to raise the necessary funds. We will help you with fundraising advice if you need it.
Is there any help with preparation?
Before you depart overseas, you will receive training. A preparation weekend will be held in London May 9-11 2008. You will also be provided with medical advice, kit and book lists and information specifically for your location.
What is the next step?
Contact Judy Lloyd or Chris Nightingale for an application form, which is to be returned to YFC. Please post your application form to Judy Lloyd, Youth for Christ, Coombswood Way, Halesowen, West Midlands. B62 8BH. Tel: 0121 502 9620. For further enquiries about the Cape Town trip, email judy.lloyd@yfc.co.ukchris.nightingale@yfc.co.uk. or
