BROADWAY IN SOUTH AFRICA'S Travel Blog-Day 4, Last Day in Diepsloot

It's been a crazy past few days as the four of us have collectively been to four different cities in South Africa in less than 24 hours. Chris and Sean picked up the eight incredible young leaders from Capetown while Frankie and I flew to Durban to prepare for their arrival. We have finally settled in to the hotel where we'll all be staying for the night in Pietermaritzburg, about an hour and a half drive away from Durban, and about ten degrees colder. I'm still beaming from the last

day at the Diepsloot camp which couldn't have gone better.
The last day was bittersweet as usual. It was heartbreaking saying goodbye to the 50 plus kids who we hope to but may never see again, but at the same time exciting to finally begin this long-awaited Leadership program. The last day was incredibly enthusiastic, exciting and passionate. All the kids started calling us by our nicknames, which we apparently had for a few days but hadn't heard them used yet. There was "skip-center", a term he coined by Frankie in his dance class. SHU-AAWNN, the way Sean always proclaims his name in the morning assembly's opening Name Game. They called Chris Jesus, and who is more angelic and cherub-like than Chris? And mine was

Alicia Keys, very flattering I must admit
The group of boys which I found difficult to get to know in the beginning of the week finally opened up and became the most outgoing, playful, silly group. They even took a big brother role to all the younger kids, and by the end of the week we were laughing together, taking pictures and joking about our nick-names. Their initial hesitance about expressing their love for the arts completely waned by the last day.

Each of the students showed such enthusiasm and focus during our incredible final performance. There was an insurmountable growth over the four days. By the end of the week they were shouting out the technical terms in unison during Frankie's dance class, they each jumped up to be the first to answer questions, and were eager yet anxious for the show-after learning two songs, a four minute dance, four of Aesop's fables and creating their own instruments! Amazing!
At the end of the day we had to run to the airport but managed to fit in an impromptu dance party to their favorite South African song "Jezebel". They wrote and performed a song for us which brought me to tears and made a huge card where they each wrote thank you's for "everything you've done for us...for keeping us from the streets....for helping us... and for the food." These kids aren't guaranteed a meal every day, and it's easy to forget how meaningful a simple gift like that can mean to the kids. We signed each of their journals, which at that point were filled with stories, poems, quotes and drawings. I lost count of the hugs, the moments of welling up, and the questions like "when are you coming back?" "will we ever see you again?" I can only hope to be somewhat of a steady figure in these kids life, even if only once as year. This week has shown me what joy they get out of the arts and the learning experience. Our goal is to help support their sense of value and trust in themselves and the people around them. I can't wait to return time and again to watch these kids grow and learned beyond their years, miles past what they've already accomplished in the past few days alone.

-LILLI COOPER

Broadway in South Africa Students