Assessing and Problem Solving for Langa (Day 6) March 28, 2026

March 28, 2026

Assessing and Problem Solving for Langa (Day 6) March 28, 2026

We started off today’s morning with a visit to the supermarket to buy sodas—specifically orange Fanta- for the big lunch today with the iThuba kids. While we were roaming around the supermarket, adding to our snack collection, I spotted a kid’s black plastic motorbike—a perfect gift for the iThuba kids. Discovering that one motorbike costs only 250 Rand, Miles, Hayden, and I decided to buy three motorbikes, each one unique: a black one with blue wheels, a black one with pink wheels, and one a combination of green and yellow. Once we got our goods, we headed back to the bus and left for Langa, the excitement of seeing the iThuba kids again filled the bus even before we arrived.

It’s always so amazing to drive through the gates of iThuba and see the kids run out of the classroom, running and smiling from ear to ear as they wave at the bus. Before beginning our main activity of the day, I spent time with the kids by playing tag. During the game, there was a game of tag between me and one of the iThuba boys. As he kept running towards me and I ran backwards, avoiding his reaching arms, I knew I was safe to continue running backwards because I knew there was no car behind me. Or so I thought. I didn’t realize AB’s and Simone’s cries of stop meant a literal stop, and I crashed into a car that I did not know had pulled in. Although a bit embarrassing at first, the laughter of both Poly students and the iThuba kids made the embarrassment seem minimal.

Hearing Siviwe’s calls to convene, we gathered together as he began to announce today’s main activity: walking around Langa and identifying problems so we can come back to iThuba and create solutions; in addition we had to keep in mind Siviwe’s five C’s and love, kindness, and respect. Not long after we began our walk, I noticed how curious everyone in Langa is, as other kids that were not a part of iThuba began to join our walk. I spent the entire walk through Langa with my new buddy, and I learned so much about him: his favorite food is sushi, his favorite color is blue (just like mine), and his favorite subject is English. A highlight from my walk was definitely forming a close connection with the iThuba fourth grader, giving him a piggyback and jumping up and down. A moment I enjoyed on our walk was entering the park and seeing not only the iThuba students dance, but also Poly students teaching dance moves back from the States and performing them at the park. Afterwards, we headed back to iThuba and began brainstorming solutions for the problems we identified.

With lunch being prepared as well as the fatigue from giving a piggyback ride kicking in, I was super hungry and excited to try a homemade South African meal, and it didn’t disappoint. There were sweet beets, corn and beans mixed together with delicious spices, pap—or grits—and a tender meat to top it off. The meal was so delicious and it only made me want to try other South African foods (super excited to try ostrich meat at Aquila). Once lunch was over, we decided now would be a good time to pop out the motorbikes. Seeing a glimpse of the motorbike coming out of the bus, all the iThuba kids swarmed around the bus. I loved not only seeing them ride the motorbikes but the kids pushing the bikes and remembering to take turns.

After we let out some energy, we gathered back into our groups and began building our solutions, using cardboard, tape, and glueguns to construct our contraptions. A problem my group identified was trash clogging the sewers, causing water to flood the streets, and we envisioned covering the drains with a net, filtering the water and preventing trash from entering the sewers. Hearing the presentations from the other groups, I liked seeing the problems the other groups saw and their creativity in creating different solutions. At the end of the presentations, Siviwe actually implemented one of the solutions—three cardboard bins labeled food waste, trash, and recycling—to the iThuba program- which was amazing. The iThuba students must have loved the idea of not only creating a solution to a problem they saw in their town, but also seeing it actually being implemented and a step further to making their town better.

With another sad goodbye, we wrapped up our evening with one last piggyback, running from one side to the other. As we all entered the bus, and the kids waved us goodbye, we headed towards dinner and ended our night. Another fun day in South Africa, and super excited for the sports tournament alongside the iThuba students tomorrow!

By Brandon S