Phokeng Playground

For the last couple of weeks I've been working in a town called Phokeng.  We're building a playground and basketball court for an after school program for orphans living in child led households.  

Martha, a lady in the community who helps care for the orphans, opens her home to the children to give them a safe place to go after school.  The kids receive a meal and tutoring and this new playground will give them something fun to play on while they are there.

This project has been led by the local YWAM base.  They hosted a team of high school students from California that provided the funding for the playground.  I've been helping out with some building expertise and I'm the only one around with the tools needed for the job.

I love doing this kind of work.  It's such a joy to simply work and see some immediate fruit from my labor.  I'll post pictures as soon as I take them.

A few of the older boys from Phokeng have been helping, and it's great to see them so eager to help out and learn.  One of the oldest boys is a kid named Tebogo.  He just graduated high school and a donor from the states has provided funding for him to go to a trade school for IT.  He starts next week and he's excited to get started.  

Tebogo been our main helper as we've been building the playground.  He's kind of a surrogate father to some of the younger kids.  It's wonderful to see him working and giving the younger kids direction.  I've nicknamed him "coach" because of how he trains the younger kids.

As I've been working it's been surreal that I'm actually back doing what I love so much.  I keep saying to myself, "I'm working in Africa...building a playground...with orphans."  I am so incredibly fortunate to be here.

~Lincoln