“Bonjour!” “Ça Va?” And then there’s a hearty laugh. It’s just after noon in the city of Dakar and Palesa Mosepele is on her lunch break. She’s been in the Senegalese capital for a month, which is her home until the completion of the 2026 Youth Olympics in November.
The 29-year-old from Johannesburg is the South African representative at the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy, which is a key legacy programme for the first Youth Olympics on African soil, taking place from 31st October to 13th November.
The programme is supported by ANOCA (Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa) and Olympic Solidarity and Mosepele is one of more than 400 young professionals being trained to help deliver the Youth Olympics.
It has been a baptism of fire for the bubbly Mosepele, who was working for Squash SA, when she was encouraged to apply for a 10-month programme that produces graduates who are deployed into the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee.
“Everything here is so French,” Mosepele says. “I really need to get someone to help me with the basics of the language, even if it’s one lesson a week, I need to learn!”
Learning is something that drives this Tshwane University of Technology graduate who has formed a close group with some new friends from Gambia and Ivory Coast and who has been kept busy by a course that is providing a platform for her, and so many others’ futures.
“I have to tell you, on the first day of class in January, the lesson was in French. Every lesson is in French in fact and I felt like I was the only person who couldn’t speak the language. I raised my hand. ‘Excuse me, I don’t understand a word you’re saying!’” And then she laughs again. “I have been using apps to translate but have been getting so much help, It’s been amazing.”
Apart from the obvious language barrier, Mosepele, who turns 30 in April, says food plays a big day in everyday life in Senegal and has been one of the most noticeable differences from home. “There’s a lot of seafood here, which is very different to what I’m used to,” she says with a laugh. “I’ve been enjoying the local cuisine and learning how food reflects the culture and way of life.”
She adds that living in a Muslim country has also been a valuable lesson in respect and cultural awareness. “Everything here is about respect and we are all very mindful of the culture and traditions, We’re getting along really well and it’s been a great experience immersing myself in a different way of life.”
While she admits to occasionally missing familiar taste from home – “especially braai meat” – she says the experience has broadened her perspective and appreciation for Senegalese culture.
Mosepele is still in the formative stages of the programme, but from March the group will move on to the next phase, which means moving to offices and settling into more of a day job. “This past month has been a short course, but that will change next month.”
Her roles will become more tangible. “What working on the Organising Committee entails is teaching skills relating to Games delivery, Planning and Operations. There’s an emphasis on soft skills communication and development and there are leadership aspects to the programme. It’s fun and exciting!”
She says things have happened quickly. “I really want to say thank you to the support from SASCOC who definitely made things easier for me and helped with my transition,” she says. Going forward, she feels that the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy and Youth Olympics experience from being on the Organising Committee, will stand her in good stead for when she returns to South Africa.
“I’m really looking forward to taking this experience back home and getting involved in a career relating to sports management, NOC operations and co-ordinating projects,” she said.
For now, she’s flying the South African flag in Senegal. “They know me as the South African girl,” she says with pride. “I bring the chaos!” And then she laughs, again. She’s a worthy ambassador for her country on the road to the 2026 Youth Olympics.
Words by Gary Lemke
