About
Journey
I’m Dasha Minsky, a proud member of the Class of 2026 at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. My parents lived in Johannesburg, South Africa, where they fell in love with its rich culture and were inspired by Nelson Mandela, who had roots in the nearby township of Alexandra. They introduced my brother, Sasha, and me to this underserved community in desperate need of support, teaching us not to look away from hardship but to face it head-on. Together, Sasha and I worked to uplift Alexandra’s youth by sharing the experiences and opportunities that have shaped our own lives.
In 2019, Sasha launched Uplift thru Sport by collecting “pre-loved” baseball equipment
for the Alexandra Baseball Club. He was inspired by Victor Ngoepe, a South African
ballplayer who grew up in the local clubhouse his mother cleaned and ultimately made it
to the major leagues — a true rags-to-riches story. As a result of his baseball initiative,
Sasha met Baba Linda Twala, affectionately known as the “Father of Alexandra,” whose
dream was to teach local children to swim. Flooding of the Jukskei River, which runs
through the center of Alexandra, makes drowning a leading cause of death in the
township. Together, Sasha and Baba Twala founded the Alexandra Youth Swim
Academy, which launched in January 2023. The evolution of this project is captured on
our website, www.alexandrayouthswimacademy.com , which is updated each Sunday to
upload pictures of that weekend’s swim lesson.
I assisted Sasha, learned from his experience, and followed in his footsteps to expand
our reach within the Alexandra community. In the spring of 2024, I launched Uplift thru
Art to support Phutaditjaba, an educational center founded by Baba Twala and Afrika
Tikkun, both key partners in our swim program. Through a direct email campaign
promoting my website, www.upliftthruart.com, I raised $7,000 for much-needed art
supplies, which were purchased in time for the start of their school year. But supplies
weren’t enough. In January 2025, I traded Virginia’s winter for Johannesburg’s summer,
working side by side with the kids to push their artwork beyond the worn images they
knew. I showed them how to layer colors, play with perspective, and weave stories into
their drawings. I took pride knowing we made progress transforming self-doubt into self-
belief. I also participated in the swim academy’s second anniversary celebration,
helping with instruction and distributing new swim caps.
Please view a slideshow of my trip here, followed by a gallery of photos that capture
these unforgettable experiences.
