30 young people from PeacePlayers Northern Ireland, PeacePlayers United States and PeacePlayers South Africa are in the middle of 10 days of basketball, leadership development, community volunteering and cultural learning. Declan is one of those 30 young people, and he’s bringing his first hand perspective about what it’s like to be part of the Exchange. He’ll be a regular contributor through the end of the exchange.

It’s the third day of the Global Exchange here in South Africa and after a night’s sleep at Camp El Olam, things start getting competitive. With a lovely breakfast being provided by the outstanding chefs at Camp, the team started off with some team building and had amazing performances…#WymBro. We then made our way out for the last activity during the Camp, archery. Hands started to rub and tensions crept up on everyone as they waited patiently to best their opposing team to win the battle that began the day prior.

Once all arrows were shot, all plates were broken and battles were finished we waited for the results to come through. Nerves began to destroy each of us slowly as the camp leaders built the tension…extremely…slowly. And finally the tension was cut as they announced…it was a draw! Guts started wrenching as they decided to give us a rock paper scissors decider. Sadly my team did not win but we kept going!