Sometimes making a change in people’s lives doesn’t mean offering or promising the world. At Sporting Chance we have come to realize that the little gestures and actions usually go a long way in positively impacting people’s lives. However, in order for our actions to have a long-term impact, sustainability has to be the bedrock of what we do. And in working with children, we understand the importance of keeping the mind active and one way of achieving this is by finding an array of methods to continue making a difference where and when we can
With the conclusion of an incredibly successful KIA Street Soccer initiative, the focus now switches to the upcoming Calypso Cricket: an initiative which once again provides us with an opportunity to act on our core principles and values.
We view sport not only as a means of keeping the youth active physically, but we value the importance that it plays in addressing socio-economic issues as well as enhancing community involvement from a young age. In order for us to have a thorough understanding of the realities that surround our youth, it’s crucial that we go into the environments and not solely believe that we will achieve an impact by removing them from their comfort zones. Sport gives us the opportunity of entering outlying communities throughout South Africa, and the youth are made aware of their common interest. Sport goes a step further: it also highlights the importance of discipline, the underlying characteristic of successful people.
This week the Sporting Chance team has embarked on its Tekkie Town inspired shoe road show, distributing shoes collected at the various Tekkie Town stores to individuals who are most in need. The road show started at Umangaliso Primary School in Khayelitsha, delivering some running shoes to children in serious need. The trip continued to The Ark, in Mfuleni, a non-profitable organisation providing shelter to displaced adults and children. The recipients at the Ark were incredibly grateful to receive the shoes handed to them by members of our staff. From Mfuleni the team wound its way to Siyabulela Primary School in Langa.
These trips and gestures are always pleasing, especially when one sees the excitement that it brings the children. The atmosphere is always electric and it underlines why we need to continue giving and helping those in need. Emotions put in words alone can never tell the true picture and the only way that we can uplift our youth is to get more public involvement. Though the kind gestures may last only for brief moments, the reality of the matter is that to those that are on the receiving end, these kind gestures remain in memory and are spoken about for long periods of time. Thank you to shoe retailer Tekkie Town for helping us to make this difference…
