The George Municipality, together with the Department of Sport and Recreation SA, have signed an agreement to promote and implement youth sports projects in local communities.
The project, initially known as the Youth against Violence through the Development of Sport in South Africa (YVDS), has been renamed to the SA Sport for Change Project. Although government has appointed Sum Consultants as the consulting firm to implement this project countrywide, the George Municipality will drive it locally. Kidron Kaboni from the George Municipality will coordinate the project.
Two local communities, Pacaltsdorp (Ward 16) and Thembalethu (Ward 15), will benefit from this project.
It entails the development of sports fields, known as kick-about's, and is aimed at the youth between the ages of 8 - 18. It will cater for soccer, rugby, netball, volleyball, basketball and mini-cricket - all at community youth level. Local schools and NGO's as well as state departments will assist and support the youth sports programme.
Only local labour will be used to build these facilities.
Kaboni has confirmed that two new applications have been submitted to construct youth kick-about facilities in Rosedale and Uniondale at an additional R3-million this year. He said "the George Municipality has become the leading local authority in implementing these youth projects in South Africa."
The project received a major boost of R100-million by the German Federal Government to build youth kick-about facilities nationwide.
Members of the larger SA Sport for Change project team that will assist in promoting and implementing youth sports projects in the greater George municipal area are (from the front left), Modisane Mekwa, Cynobrey Jansen, Cllr Marchell Kleynhans, Kidron Kaboni, project coordinator, Fanele Guga and Jonathan Fortuin. Back row: Sisanda Sihoyiya, Zoleka Malusi, Paul Goedhart, Cllr Gert McClune, Johan Barnard, Sifiso Mthiyane, Dimitri Kweta, Rabie Loubscher and Jacques Quinot.
