Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Round of applause for Einstein

Love Life is a youth center designed to educate and support teens to become healthy, successful citizens. The team has spent two days there so far, and it has made a bigger impact on us than we could have imagined. 

The center has a clinic that is open to people 24 years old and younger. Here, they are protected from judgment and fear from elders in their communities. It is a free resource where a nurse helps them with family planning, STI prevention, and guidance.

Within the budget, there are 10 Ground breakers that are selected and given a stipend. Each "intern" is given a part of the center to run. This prepares them for leadership, as well as a skill. Some positions that are held by the young leaders are sports and recreation, media, disc jockey, computer lab and gender based abuse counseling.


Our tour was led by a volunteer who is known around the center as Einstein. He was a Ground breaker last year, and is such a huge part of Love Life today. The team got to learn a lot about this bright 22 year old, and in hours we all grew to become a true fan club.

Einstein did his first year of college at the Nelson Mandela Municipal University. He woke up at 3 AM everyday to walk 9 miles to the train station to commute to school. Unfortunately, this way of transport became too expensive for him to continue his studies, and he found an outlet through Love Life to practice his passion of film making. 

This young spirit dreams of being the world's next best physicist. He has a true knowledge of science and wants to reach his full potential. In his room, he has Einstein quotes, as well as his life goals and plans. 

Einstein does not have the monetary means to complete school right now, but this does not stop him from planning and moving towards his goals. He stays active in his community. He is educating his generation on how to stay safe, and how to take care of their community. 


His ultimate goal is to "fight for life."

One quote that I found from Albert Einstein that I felt was relevant for the future physicist is: "Our task must be to free ourselves...by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and it's beauty."

I wish I could bring this feeling back with me. The compassion and ubuntu that is shown among the people in Port Elizabeth is overwhelming. Love and respect is given unconditionally, without expectations.


The harder you work, the luckier you'll be.


I try to live life treating others as I want to be treated, but I need to do more than that. I need to give what I can so that others can become the best they can be. We cannot be passive citizens. We need to build each other up if we want to survive.


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