South Africa’s most celebrated Paralympian Natalie du Toit, London Olympic bronze medallist Bridgitte Hartley and London Paralympic gold and silver medallist Ilse Hayes joined some of the greatest names of South African sport in Cape Town to congratulate the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation on its 10th birthday.
Since its creation, Laureus South Africa, with the support of their Country Patron Discovery Health, has funded sports-based community projects around the country, which have helped to improve the lives of more than 11,000 children and tackled many of the social ills, which are affecting young people today.
“The way that Laureus encourages healthy communities through sport is similar to the way Discovery uses our Vitality programme – our foremost tool in helping our members become healthier. With its emphasis on good preparation, regular exercise and good nutrition, sport encapsulates many of the same healthy behaviours we strive to promote through Vitality.
The Corporate Social Investment fit for the partnership can be witnessed through the Discovery Volunteer Programmes where the partnership between Discovery and Laureus has been a special one where we have engaged Laureus projects through our long term strategy called the Adopt a Project. This is where teams or departments have adopted a project for a minimum of one year or more and have really looked at the long term investment that would impact greater on the projects that they deal with.” said Ruth Lewin, Head of Corporate Sustainability at Discovery.
But while enjoying the moment, rugby legend Morné du Plessis, the Chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa, said: “Yes, it has been a fantastic achievement and we can allow ourselves a few moments to celebrate but we are already looking forward to the next decade. There is still so much work to do.”
Morné recalled how Laureus began. “The first gathering of Laureus Academy Members in Monaco was addressed by President Mandela. Everybody was slightly sceptical about the concept of sport being a force in a society. But then he came into the room and for the first time we heard the words ‘Sport has the power to change the world.’ That has now become almost a motto not just for Laureus, but for the whole sporting movement in society.
“We now have programmes probably touching on every social issue that our society needs to deal with in all corners of South Africa, fantastically supported by the Laureus Global Foundation, with an amazing array of sporting stars and the energy of the local people and our management in South Africa.”
The 10th Anniversary Celebration was held at the South African Sports Science Institute at Newlands, Cape Town.
The newest Laureus-supported project in South Africa was also revealed. The Hout Bay Cycling Club in Cape Town is based at James House, a club house near the Imizamo Yethu Community in Hout Bay. In March 2011 the Club sent 17 riders to the Argus Race where they performed well with four riders coming in under 4h15min. There are currently 20 riders in the club, 19 of whom are youths from Imizamo Yethu. The club house has been fitted with shelves and each boy has a personal storage box, cycling clothes and equipment.
Drugs and gangsterism is rife in this informal community and the HBCC aims to offer a viable alternative which not only assists them in setting goals, but also teaches them specific life skills and discipline.
Hout Bay is the 16th project which Laureus South Africa supports. The others are PeacePlayers International, Lungisani – Indlela, Indigo Youth Movement, Great Commission United, Grassroot Soccer, Vuka, Buffalo City Soccer School, Poloafrica, Sport For All, Little Champs, Johannesburg Cubs, Fight With Insight, Soweto Schools Rugby Programme, Waves For Change and Makomba – Ndlela Youth Movement.
The first graduates from the Laureus YES programme, which is training young people to become role models within their communities, were also presented.
Ten possible leaders from South African projects were selected and they have taken part in training sessions in Durban and Cape Town. They took courses in sports management and facilitation, radio journalism and IT to allow them to go back into their communities to create a critical mass of change. Each of the graduates received their certificates from Mike Horn.
Morné du Plessis said: “What happens to a kid once he’s grown through one of our projects, where does he go? The YES programme is an opportunity to be accredited as a coach, as a social sports educator and it’s been tremendously effective. I had the opportunity to see two of the graduates in this programme actually present to the Laureus Global Summit meeting in Barcelona about the effectiveness of the programme to a standing ovation.”
Another of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the ‘Laureus Shoe’ which has been made by children in Grade 6 and 7 of Woodlands Primary School in Heideveld, Cape Flats, Cape Town – from where the Laureus-supported project Great Commission United draws their participants.
Each child made a shoe, which turns into a calendar, for a special Laureus guest to thank all the key partners involved in helping to make the Laureus Foundation South Africa such a success.
During the event, Laureus South Africa Chairman Morné du Plessis thanked Discovery Health for the stalwart support over the years. He said: “In the early days Discovery Health came to us saying ‘we think this is a fantastic idea and we would like to support you in putting up a local Foundation.’ And so one of the first national Laureus Foundation was formed ten years ago and now we are looking towards our next decade.”
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