Tsholofelo Culture Day
Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 5:37AM 
On Saturday the 31st of July, SERVE in conjunction with Tsholofelo community hosted a culture and sports day for the local youth groups from the surrounding squatter camps of Freedom Park, Nkanang and Tsholofelo’s own core group. Kenny Skosana organised a cultural feast of music, dance and football. Girls and boys, men and women from the age of 5 to 25 played King to Solomon, an intense African game to break the ice and get everyone warmed up and ready to get the ball rolling. Freedom park squatter camp presented us with an insightful dramatisation about problems facing youths in their community. The problems portrayed are not worlds apart from that of Ireland. Issues such as peer pressure, alcohol and sex were covered through a colourful and musical dance interpretation. The “gum boot dance “ as it is called across the squatter camps of South Africa was an upbeat performance where the young men from Freedom park danced in their “wellies” 
making beats and rhythm by slapping their legs and boots in unison. Through the turmoil and hardship the young people endure in Freedom park Squatter Park, their rich and rhythmic roots are positively expressed in their dancing and performances.
The SERVE volunteers were next to follow with a fantastic rendition of Molly Malone that blew the audience away, literally!! They were running for the nearest exit. Our singing and dancing talents left a lot to be desired but we did have the football blitz ahead of us to show off our sporting skills.
Four teams took part in the football tournament, Nkaneng, Freedom Park, Phokeng and the SERVE volunteers 
together with the local Tsholofelo group. William Browne captained our own team
with a few encouraging words, “get in there lads”! After an intense final and extra time the SERVE team won 4 goals to 3. The vuvuzuela's were blown as the champions jumped up and down. A fine feed of pap and traditional South African sausages was awaiting all the teams back in Tsholofelo. A very enjoyable day was had by all. The SERVE volunteers and the local youths came together for a cross-cultural day of fun, SERVE solidarity at its finest.