Kristin and Brian Rappé were moved by what Gabe Fisher, a friend of theirs, was doing in South Africa.
- He was working with teens and young adults who live in extreme poverty, “using CrossFit to teach them grit and determination, helping them learn that they can do hard things, and mentoring them in leadership and job skills,” Kristin, who first found CrossFit in 2013, told the Morning Chalk Up in an interview.
In 2023, the gym where Fisher had been running his program moved 25 minutes away, making it nearly impossible for the kids and teens to get there daily.
Back in Indiana, Kristin and Brian felt compelled to help.
So, with Fisher being their only connection to South Africa, they packed up and moved halfway across the world to South Africa to open a gym where Fisher could run his youth program, L327 Fitness.
In October 2023, the Rappés opened CrossFit Masiphumelele, a nonprofit affiliate located in Kommetjie, South Africa.
- “Just less than eight weeks from concept to an approved and functional affiliate,” Kristin said of how quickly it all happened.
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CrossFit Masiphumelele Today
One year later, CrossFit Masiphumelele has 130 members and is the home to 18 youth in the L327 Fitness program.
Kristin Rappé says the ultimate goal is to make CrossFit available to everyone, “regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion or socio-economic status.”
- “Our mission statement is clear: Our passion for CrossFit. Our mission is people,” she added.
Her gym feeds the youth in the L327 program after each workout, and they’re working on continually providing bigger meals with more protein.
Further, CrossFit Masiphumelele’s membership fees are decided based on a person’s income. To cover the full cost of the membership, the Rappés rely on donations, mostly from CrossFit friends in the United States.
- “Except for the [18] kids, everyone pays something. Everyone has some skin in the game,” Rappé said, adding that 74 percent of her members pay subsidized rates.
The Big Picture
What has touched Rappé the most in the last year as an affiliate owner is watching people support each other.
- “Many of our members have taken an interest in the kids. You’ll often see someone sitting down after class with one of the kids, asking about school or plans for the weekend,” she said. “Such a small act of kindness and love can have an immeasurable impact on the young person’s life.”
These acts of kindness have extended to helping people financially, as well.
In one case, a group of members asked if they could pay the monthly membership fees for another member and their son to relieve the financial burden on the family.
- “And members routinely join in supporting other local charitable organizations through the gym: food and clothing drives, burpees for bucks…The list goes on,” she said.
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Rappé added: “Despite the differences in race and culture that still persist in South Africa even 30 years post-apartheid, the members of CrossFit Masiphumelele have formed a unique community where everyone belongs. The people in our gym have become one family that none of them knew they needed.”
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Featured image: @crossfit_masi / Instagram
