{"id":27533,"date":"2026-03-12T11:42:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T10:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/?p=27533"},"modified":"2026-03-12T11:43:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T10:43:53","slug":"growing-up-on-the-other-side-of-the-world-my-experience-in-south-africa-with-civil-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/en\/growing-up-on-the-other-side-of-the-world-my-experience-in-south-africa-with-civil-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing up on the other side of the world: my experience in South Africa with Civil Service"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:70px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1216.8px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:16.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:11.52%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:11.52%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-one\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color6);--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-margin-bottom:0px;--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:20px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;--awb-font-size:38px;\"><h1 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"margin:0;font-size:1em;\">Growing up on the other side of the world: my experience in South Africa with Civil Service<\/h1><\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator\" style=\"align-self: flex-start;margin-right:auto;margin-top:15px;margin-bottom:30px;width:100%;max-width:200px;\"><div class=\"fusion-separator-border sep-single sep-solid\" style=\"--awb-height:20px;--awb-amount:20px;--awb-sep-color:#fec96b;border-color:#fec96b;border-top-width:3px;\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:25px;--awb-margin-bottom:25px;\"><p><b style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold;\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\"><i>by Margherita Di Lelio<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter size-full wp-image-27537\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27800%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20800%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27800%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica.jpg 800w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>When I chose to leave for South Africa with Universal Civil Service, I did so because I have been passionate about the history of this country for years and wanted to see with my own eyes what I had studied in books. but I felt that studying was no longer enough for me: I wanted to see with my own eyes, to really understand, to <span style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold; color: var(--awb-color6);\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\">get involved in first person, to make myself useful and to live a real, concrete experience, made up of relationships and shared everyday life<\/span>. <\/p>\n<p>Today I can say that this experience is changing me much more than I imagined.<\/p>\n<p>Much of my service takes place at St. Patrick Church and Mother Theresa Charity Group. Every Tuesday at Mother Theresa, we help prepare and distribute meals for the most vulnerable people in the community. Seeing the long lines of people waiting, touching such obvious poverty, is something that gets under your skin. Yet it <span style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold; color: var(--awb-color6);\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\">was there that I discovered the incredible power of teamwork and sense of community. <\/span>During the Christmas party, in particular, I felt strongly the beauty of sharing not just a meal, but a moment of dignity, celebration and humanity.<span style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold; color: var(--awb-color6);\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\"> Even a simple gesture, such as offering a bowl of soup or giving a smile, can have immense value.<\/span>   <\/p>\n<p>Alongside this, <span style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold; color: var(--awb-color6);\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\">a key part of my experience is the children.<\/span> With them we organized after-school activities, prepared a Christmas show, coordinated ballets for the Festival of Nations, and conducted four days of summer camp. Summer camp was intense, full of energy, sometimes tiring, but incredibly alive. There are children who have stayed in my heart: when they call my name, when they take my hand, when they dance mindlessly, even though I know that outside that courtyard their lives are not always easy. In those moments I realize how important it is to be there.   <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter size-full wp-image-27536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27800%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20800%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27800%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Margherita-Di-Lelio-servizio-civile-sudafrica-2.jpg 800w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Another special memory is the trip to Pretoria together with the children and the Fathers. Seeing them in front of the statue of Nelson Mandela, explaining to them who he was and what he represents, was a moment that combined my passion for history with the concrete reality that I am living here. <\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold; color: var(--awb-color6);\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\">It was not all immediate. At first adapting to a different culture, to new rhythms, to ways of communicating that were far from my own, was challenging. But this very thing taught me to be more open, more patient, more flexible. I learned to welcome what is different without judging it, to find my space with respect, to turn difficulties into opportunities for growth.   <\/p>\n<p>Now, when I am faced with something new, I can stop, breathe and take from that situation whatever it can teach me.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold; color: var(--awb-color6);\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\">This experience is making me more aware, stronger, more able to adapt.<\/span> It is teaching me that Universal Civil Service is not just a project:<span style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold; color: var(--awb-color6);\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\"> it is an encounter.<\/span> With a country, with a community, but above all with a new part of oneself.<\/p>\n<p>If I had to describe it in one word, I would say:  <span style=\"font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold; color: var(--awb-color6);\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\">reality. A reality made up of faces, hands, stories, smiles. <\/span>  And the deep feeling that I am, in my own small way, in the right place.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:16.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:11.52%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:11.52%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1216.8px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:16.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:11.52%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:11.52%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_2_3 2_3 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-bottom:31px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color6);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color6);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:10px 10px 10px 10px;--awb-width-large:66.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:2.88%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:2.88%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-margin-top:25px;--awb-margin-right:25px;--awb-margin-bottom:25px;--awb-margin-left:25px;\"><p style=\"color: var(--awb-color1);\">Se sei una ragazza o un ragazzo tra i 18 e i 29 anni, puoi partecipare al <b style=\"color: var(--awb-color5); font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold;\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\">Bando del Servizio Civile 2026<\/b> con FOCSIV, in Italia e all\u2019estero. Tra i diversi progetti potrai scegliere di candidarti ai <b style=\"color: var(--awb-color5); font-family: Roboto; font-weight: bold;\" data-fusion-font=\"true\" data-fusion-google-font=\"Roboto\" data-fusion-google-variant=\"700\">progetti di ASCS<\/b> e camminare al nostro fianco a supporto di migranti, rifugiati e comunit\u00e0 locali.<\/p>\n<\/div><div style=\"text-align:center;\"><a class=\"fusion-button button-flat fusion-button-default-size button-default fusion-button-default button-1 fusion-button-default-span fusion-button-default-type\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/serviziocivile\/\"><span class=\"fusion-button-text awb-button__text awb-button__text--default\">Scopri di pi\u00f9<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-5 fusion_builder_column_1_6 1_6 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:16.666666666667%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:11.52%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:11.52%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 fusion-flex-container fusion-parallax-fixed nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling lazyload\" style=\"--awb-background-blend-mode:exclusion;--awb-border-sizes-top:0px;--awb-border-sizes-bottom:0px;--awb-border-sizes-left:0px;--awb-border-sizes-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:150px;--awb-padding-bottom:150px;--awb-background-color:var(--awb-color6);--awb-background-image:linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(252,179,22,0.2) 0%,rgba(252,179,22,0.2) 100%);;--awb-background-size:cover;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;background-attachment:fixed;\" data-bg=\"https:\/\/www.ascs.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/para-ASCS-ge.jpg\" data-bg-gradient=\"linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(252,179,22,0.2) 0%,rgba(252,179,22,0.2) 100%)\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:calc( 1170px + 0px );margin-left: calc(-0px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-0px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-6 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:45px;--awb-padding-right:35px;--awb-padding-bottom:35px;--awb-padding-left:35px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:rgba(246,241,234,0.85);--awb-bg-color-hover:rgba(246,241,234,0.85);--awb-bg-blend:overlay;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:21px 21px 21px 21px;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:0px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:0px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:0px;--awb-spacing-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-margin-right-small:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:20px;--awb-margin-left-small:0px;\"><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Fira Sans&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:900;margin:0;\">Unisciti a noi<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\" style=\"--awb-content-alignment:center;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color7);\"><p style=\"font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.6;\" data-fusion-font=\"true\">Insieme possiamo costruire una comunit\u00e0 aperta ed inclusiva nella quale la diversit\u00e0 rappresenta una ricchezza e ciascuno pu\u00f2 contribuire alla creazione del bene comune.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:25px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"--awb-flex-grow:0;--awb-flex-grow-medium:0;--awb-flex-grow-small:0;--awb-flex-shrink:0;--awb-flex-shrink-medium:0;--awb-flex-shrink-small:0;width:calc( 100% + 0px ) !important;max-width:calc( 100% + 0px ) !important;margin-left: calc(-0px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-0px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-0 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:0px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:0px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:0px;--awb-spacing-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div style=\"text-align:center;\"><a class=\"fusion-button button-flat fusion-button-default-size button-default fusion-button-default button-2 fusion-button-default-span fusion-button-default-type\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/dona.ascs.it\/sostienici\/~mia-donazione\"><span class=\"fusion-button-text awb-button__text awb-button__text--default\">dona ora<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-1 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:0px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:0px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:0px;--awb-spacing-left-small:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start 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volontario<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1683],"tags":[575,1718,868,1252,1717,1720,1719,1008,694,1654,827],"class_list":["post-27533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-civil-service","tag-ascs-en","tag-ascs-testimonials","tag-community-service","tag-development-cooperation","tag-margaret-ascs","tag-mother-theresa-charity-group","tag-nelson-mandela","tag-scalabriniani-en-2","tag-south-africa","tag-universal-civil-service","tag-volontariato-internazionale-en"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>South Africa: my Civil Service experience with ASCS<\/title>\n<meta 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