First Coast YMCA Team Learns Valuable Lessons While Visiting South Africa Branches
As part of its ongoing commitment to social responsibility – a core focus of the YMCA – senior leaders from the First Coast YMCA, along with committed volunteers who serve as Johnson Family YMCA and Brooks Family YMCA advisory board members, recently traveled to South Africa to connect with YMCA branches in several cities. The First Coast YMCA belongs to the South Africa coalition, which was started by First Coast YMCA CEO and President Eric Mann in 2005 and includes more than a dozen YMCAs in the United States. The trip spanned more than 2,000 miles and was the latest example of First Coast YMCA representatives learning first-hand from their global counterparts about how to address societal issues by sharing collective experiences.
“Immersing myself in the vibrant history of South Africa, I was inspired by the forgiveness, empathy, and resilience that characterize its people,” said Ericia Moore, First Coast YMCA Vice President of Social Responsibility and Operations.
After landing in Johannesburg, the First Coast YMCA cohort was met at the airport by members of the Soweto YMCA branch, who brought the group back to their location. Among their facilities was a building where Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa and human rights activist, trained as a boxer in his youth. Throughout the trip, the impact of apartheid, the racial segregation practices that existed in the country for much of the second half of the 20th century, were still very apparent, including among children.
“The legacy of apartheid has given the youth at each location a profound awareness of historical injustices,” said Moore. “They are vocal and proactive in their efforts to create better communities for the future.”
Connecting with children was a consistent theme throughout the trip. After a visit to the Pretoria YMCA roughly 90 kilometers away, the cohort travelled across the country to the YMCA Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth. It was there that the group participated in several events, none perhaps more impactful than The New Shoe Project, which provided new shoes to children at the branch.
“Seeing the joy in the children’s eyes while we helped them put new shoes on was a powerful reminder of how much we take for granted,” said Penny Zuber, First Coast YMCA Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. “The shoes not only provided support and comfort, but also symbolized dignity and provided confidence to the children who would otherwise wear shoes with holes in them or skip school altogether. It was sobering and humbling.”
The moment impacted Moore as well.
“While the joy of providing shoes to the children filled my heart, I found myself mesmerized by their eyes,” recalled Moore. “Many of them were genuinely happy, yet it was evident that life posed significant challenges for these young ones. I learned that siblings often took turns attending school because they needed to share shoes. I left with a deep desire to ensure that every child at both schools had their own pair of shoes, eliminating the necessity for sharing.”
The cohort rounded out their nearly two-week-long trek at the Cape Town, Cape Flats, and Ravensmead YMCAs. It was clear that staff and volunteers at all locations were passionate about providing much-needed resources to the community, however they were able.
“There is so much we can learn from their resilience and resourcefulness,” said Zuber. “It can open our eyes to possibilities and appreciation for people who may look and live differently, but care just as much as we do in serving those in need.”
The trip also reinforced the First Coast YMCA’s commitment to learning and collaborating with fellow branches around the world to promote the timeless values the YMCA was founded on.
“We live in abundance and have the capacity – and obligation – to share resources like time, talent and treasure with YMCAs whose work is equally life-changing,” said Zuber.
“Maintaining global relationships is a vital part of our social responsibility. It encourages knowledge-sharing, strengthens local initiatives, and fosters a global mindset to address social issues and inequities,” said Moore, who added, “This trip has left a lasting impression on my heart, reminding me of the impact we can create when we listen, learn, and embrace the power of unity and resilience.”
The first week at camp was full of adjustments and skill advancements; it was the training week when I initially interacted with my fellow counselors and learned the necessary competencies. The phase of adapting to a new environment, understanding cultural differences, and finding footing in an unfamiliar place. But the welcoming atmosphere, enthusiasm of my co-counselors, and the values and inclusive outlook the camp upholds made it easy to adapt.
Branch Executive Director Brooke Foerman, Instructor Laura Tomaselli, and several of the parents of child participants were 
