“It has given me unforgettable moments and a lot of loyal friends in my life – like a second family.”

Christian is in Lamberts Bay as a weltwärts volunteer for one year and supports PlayHandball’s partner organization “Rural Impact” on site.  In the following interview, our volunteer Christian talks about his experience after seven months:

PLAY HANDBALL: Why is handball important for you and what has it done for you?

Christian: Handball is important for me because I can have fun and exercise at the same time and can even spend time with friends.
It has given me unforgettable moments and a lot of loyal friends in my life – like a second family.

PLAY HANDBALL: How did you heard about PLAY HANDBALL ZA?

Christian: I was looking for a volunteer service in different countries and then I found the website of weltwaerts and heard about the organisation and their project.

PLAY HANDBALL: Why did you decided to become a Handball Volunteer in South Africa?

Christian: Because it was my dream to go into a different country to do a volunteering service after my final exams at school. And then it was a perfect match with PlayHandball and South Africa.

PLAY HANDBALL: How long have you been now a handball volunteer in South Africa?

Christian: I have been a handball volunteer for over 7 months now.

PLAY HANDBALL: What was the most memorable experience?

Christian: The most memorable experience was the Handball Tournament we had in Lambertsbay in the beginning of May for sure .
Not only because a team from my school won at the group of the 4th graders but in general it was a very cool and exciting event.

PLAY HANDBALL: What was the greatest challenge until now?

Christian: The greatest challenge was the first few weeks in the schools. To try to train Handball with kids that haven’t even heard of Handball. And seeing how well it worked out after a few months.

PLAY HANDBALL: How do you experience the handball coaching at school/ community?

Christian: I experience it as a really good thing because alot of people know me through my work and talk to me about handball and I really enjoy it.

PLAY HANDBALL: How has your work had an impact on you and in the community?

Christian: It has a big impact on me in my community. I get asked to help at Sport Events and people come up to me to ask for help with organizing Sport Events as well.

PLAY HANDBALL: How is the life with a local South African host family?

Christian: I experience life as very chilled and calm. Not alot of activities during the day but alot of activities when the family gathers together for Birthdays or stuff like that.

More in this category: Weltwärts with handball: New volunteers as coaches landed in South Africa. » ‘Handball in School’ workshops attract enthusiasm in South Africa » Supercup inspires more than 300 youth for sustainable behaviours and handball » Adopt-A-Club launches fundraising campaign for the Bo-Kaap Handball Club » Start of Handball and Volunteer Season » Play Handball Supercup in Kenya » Our volunteers Paul, Konrad and Henning in Tansania » PlayHandball at the weltwärts conference in Kigali, Rwanda » Midterm Seminars in Botswana and Kenya » Interview with our team in Botswana » Friendly Tournament at the Observatory Junior School » Sport Day in Utawala, Kenya » Volunteer Arrival and PlayHandball in Botswana » PlayHandball as part of the GloKnoCo Project in Brighton » Sophia tells about her first weeks in Kenya » Martin Bergers handball experience in Africa » Linah tells about her experiences as a participant of the Trilateral Youth Coaches Encounter » PlayHandball part of the GloKnoCo School in Brussels » Lisza reports from her experiences as a volunteer in Cape Town » Mid-term seminar with our weltwaerts-volunteers » Simon tells of his experiences as a volunteer in Juja » Lars tells of his experiences as a volunteer in Darling » Kick-off-Weekend of the Trilateral Youth Coaches Exchange » Virtual exchange connects young coaches from Germany, Kenya and South Africa. » Re-launch of the Weltwärts Volunteer Program in Kenya and South Africa. » Community Talk with Louise Barends from Darling Outreach Foundation in South Africa » A year full of uncertainty, waiting and flexibility instead of experiencing South Africa as a handball volunteer. » Play Handball Corona Aid helps over 1000 people in South Africa and Kenya. » Midterm-Seminar and Partner Meeting » Léon reports from his experience as volunteer by our partner organisation Empower Gils Plus in Kisumu, Kenia » Jasper is one of the first volunteers in Kenya and reports from his experience » Take action for the future – the 4th SuperCup in Cape Town inspires 150 kids to take action for climate change » Hanna reports from her experiences in 2 different communities around Cape Town » Press Release – Play Handball SuperCup 2019 in Cape Town » Laura tells of her experiences as a volunteer in Cape Town » PendoAmani in Kenya & PLAY HANDBALL initiate Handball After School Program » From Blomberg to the Cape – As volunteer coaches in South Africa » Meet The Volunteer: Sophia experiences township life in Jo’burg » “I am, You are, We are South Africa!” – Ubomi Children Camp July 2019 » Play Handball Volunteer Programme extends to Kenya » Interview with our Swiss volunteer Daniel Schettler » Handball is an universal language – Play Handball at Karookop Primary School » Interview with Thabang from Franschhoek Community Sport Centre » Supercup inspires over 450 children in Africa » With Handball active for a climate change – Play Handball Supercup 2018 in Delft, Cape Town » Play Handball Supercup 2018 in Benoni » Super handball action at the Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton » Donation Campaign of Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz brings about 30 000 Euro » Interview with the volunteer Matti Schubert » Learners embrace new sport » Handball is a new sport in the farming area of Piketberg » First ever PLAY HANDBALL Junior Cup in Stellenbosch » VOLUNTEER INTERVIEW with SIMON UTTKE » Get your own Calendar of “Memories of Joy and Unity with Handball” for your donation of 25€ and more » Conclusion ‘Play Handball’ 2017 » Using Sport to raise awareness for Climate Change! » Interview with Michael Haaß (HC Erlangen, World Champion 2007) – “Handball and Sport in general open doors for your life.” » PLAY HANDBALL starts in Kenya in 2017 » The 1st climate-neutral handball tournament series in South Africa » PLAY HANDBALL SuperCup on the 29th of October 2016, in Johannesburg and on the 19th of November in Cape Town, » PLAY HANDBALL SuperCup on the 24th of April 2016 at the German International School in Tamboerskloof, Cape Town. » STREET UP YOUR HANDBALL – Developing communities around South Africa with and through handball » SolarWorld powers Handball in South Africa » THE START OF A NEW HANDBALL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM » GIRLS HANDBALL DAY – TRAIN WITH THE PROS PROMOTING fun, health, passion and multi-cultural cohesion » Halftime for the handball development project of the German Olympic Sports Confederation in partnership with the South African Handball Federation in the Western Cape » Partnership for handball development between Germany and South Africa: Short-term handball development project financed by means of German Federal Foreign Office »
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