PeacePlayers South Africa Storybook FINAL - Flipbook - Page 115
& Partnerships, happened to be her coach for this team. Through Nasiphi, Caitlin was
introduced to PeacePlayers.
Hannah’s introduction to PeacePlayers was when her school, Danville High School,
was invited to participate in the 1st local Friendship Games in 2019 at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal’s Old Mutual Sports Hall. At this event, Caitlin and Hannah were selected
as Leadership Development Programme participants. This selection would soon help them
realize the power they held to leave a positive imprint on any environment they found
themselves in.
Friendship Games initially connected them, but they developed a more profound
connection after participating in monthly LDP sessions at Addington Primary in South
Beach, Durban. They bonded instantly; through their shared passion for the game and their
ability to bring out the best in one another. Hannah recalls being young in the programme
and not feeling comfortable coming out of her shell in a new environment. Hannah says
that Caitlin "was that understanding and outgoing friend who always brought me out of
my shell when I feel I could not do certain things." Caitlin values Hannah's friendship and
admires the growth she has seen from her in the process. Caitlin describes Hannah as
“wholehearted, adventurous, courageous, and outgoing.”
In 2020, Hannah and Caitlin’s growth within and outside of basketball led them both
receiving colours from their respective schools, signifying their accomplishments. Hannah
was the trailblazer on the LDP team who first took the initiative to notify her school about
the programme she was involved in with PeacePlayers. She was the first to be recognised
with colours.
Hannah credits PeacePlayers for “giving opportunities to understand other cultures across
the world better, giving us the opportunities to make new friends across the world, and
enhancing our leadership skills.” This experience gave Hannah a new sense of belonging, it
changed how she interacted with others and how she approached opportunities. "I started
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