Written by Alexandra “Ally” R. Olejniczak, 2024-25 Latitudes Student
Before coming to Melkhoutfontein, I experienced a three-day orientation in Johannesburg where I visited multiple historical sites like Soweto, Nelson Mandela’s house, Prison Four, and Maropeng. I also visited the Apartheid Museum.
When I first got off the plane at George Airport, I was taken to the beach in Stillbaai where we sat at a restaurant, and I shared a sandwich with my Dreamcatcher mentor, Anthea. Watching the giant waves, I immediately decided I’d love it here.
When I got to the place I would be staying and met my host parents, Marie and Leonard, I immediately felt at home. All the same, coming here was a big change. Everything I took for granted became a privilege. It was a huge change in perspective as I was shown a completely different way to live.
The purpose of a dreamcatcher is to dispel bad dreams from your sleep; the object is a symbol of lighter times. It is hope that rises as new volunteers come into the village each week, month, and year. With that hope, the dreamcatcher can create a desired dream—a dream for hot water, a dream for education to grow up through, a dream for a roof over your head and food to eat, a new door, or a painted mural. That became my new goal as a volunteer: to give people hope. The purpose I chose for myself became much more fulfilling.
Challenges Along the Journey
There is a lot of work I have to balance during the week—from working on my research project on the history of Melkhoutfontein, lesson planning for the kids I work with on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and writing my theater production (also about the history of Melkhoutfontein), to building Green Johannas, painting murals, and other side tasks.
I love working with the kids and seeing their improvement in dancing and singing, but so much of it is new to me. During the summers I work at a camp close to my home, and there I teach the kids choreography for their theater productions, which inspired my work here.
What I’m doing with Dreamcatcher South Africa involves so much more, because I am also directing the show—not to mention creating it from scratch! It’s a lot to do, and sometimes it feels overwhelming if I’m not looking at a layout written or typed on a calendar of deadlines I’ve created for myself. Luckily, I love creating calendars and other time charts, and I consider myself to be good at time management too.
It took me a while to create a complete schedule, and sometimes things happen that I can’t control and things get pushed back or changed around—but I always get through it.
If I could give myself one piece of advice—or anyone reading this—I would say:
“Always be prepared to be flexible and overcome that obstacle with stride. Look at it like a playground.”
Most importantly—the world does not have a personal grudge against you. Things just go wrong, and you have to get back up two or three hundred times.
Memorable Highlights
There are so many things I love about Melkhoutfontein. The community has been so welcoming. It’s also a huge bonus that I got to escape the cold winter months in Wisconsin and the confused spring that follows.
Melkhoutfontein and Stilbaai (which is just next door) hold so much interesting history, including the Blombos caves—which are considered the birthplace of humans!
When I get home from my work, I usually play soccer or race with the girls. Melkhoutfontein has a giant rugby field, and I love to go with my new friends to watch them play. There’s also a court where the girls play netball, which is what we would call basketball. If we aren’t doing any of those activities, you can usually find me and the girls dancing in the yard.
My favorite place to go is the beach in Stilbaai. I love the soft sand and the clear water—the light shade of blue the waves create, and the beautiful shells that crowd along the sea line. I think the beach is so peaceful, and so far it hasn’t been crowded when I’ve gone.
One time I got to go with the Dreamcatcher kids—we had so much fun playing volleyball and waiting in the water for the waves to crash into us. Usually, my motive for going to the beach is quiet walks or peaceful naps, but I think that day was my all-time favorite beach day.
Unexpected Moments and Unforgettable Growth
I think the thing that surprised me the most is load-sharing. Load-sharing is a period of time where all electricity across South Africa is cut off. It causes a lot of problems like food spoilage, and people who are on life support need to pay lots of money for machines that don’t rely on electricity.
If America had a situation like this for even one day, I know people would act like the world was ending—but no one in my community blinked (or rolled) an eye at it.
The first time it happened while I was there, it occurred in three-hour periods, four different times, for two days in a row. It was weird, and almost creepy to me—but after the first occurrence, I barely noticed when or if it had happened anymore.
I’m actually excited for the day that it happens at night on a clear day so I can look up and see all the stars—something you usually wouldn’t be able to see.
I’m really looking forward to the performance of the production I’m putting on. Teaching music and dance—two of my biggest passions—makes me feel so honored to share with the kids. They’ve been learning so fast and having so much fun too!
So much has come out of my time in Melkhoutfontein, and I’m only halfway through my adventure here!
Inspired by Ally’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey!
