Introducing a new three day sports holiday program! Due to COVID-19, our annual seven week Street Sports Tournament which offers sport to hundreds of vulnerable youth in Cape Town has been cancelled. However, with children out of school for so long this year and spending more time on the streets, it is more important now than ever to get children involved in healthy activities with coaches that can be positive role models.
Physical Education is not mandatory in schools in South Africa and outside of school children are left unsupervised, putting them at risk of abuse or involvement in negative behaviour. Especially this year, when there has been a lack of classroom learning, structure, food, and opportunities for under resourced communities - children's mental, emotional, and physical health is suffering. By providing the power of sport we can work to combat this.
This sports program will involve 48 children and 7 coaches per community, as to stick to COVID-19 regulations. We will be providing a safe supervised space during the school holiday when their guardians aren't at home to promote teamwork, discipline, healthy competition, physical activity and positive interactions. Not only will this be beneficial to children, but it will also employ young adults during a time when so many people have lost their jobs and have been left without an income.
Sport is not something that everyone has the opportunity to access, but we believe that sport is powerful and instills values that are beneficial for success in education and other aspects of life that help lift people out of poverty. Sport provides an opportunity for personal and community growth to those that wouldn't otherwise have it. During a year that has impacted livelihoods so heavily, this program will provide hope, new possibilities, and the chance to envision a positive future again.
