new dutch students

today we welcomed the new dutch sports students from the HAN university (arnhem in holland) onto the village of hope project. jasper and djuri helped arron at his rooidakke club and talitha helped me, mel, and emily's sister, sophie, at hillside. the girls loved their new friends and we had over 25 boys and around 12 girls attend the club.

we are looking forward to working with these guys who will not only help at the midweek clubs but also look to extend the work via the municipality into other areas of grabouw. they will also take on the work that bart (our last sports management student) did with the astro turf sports pitch that will eventually be part of the new rooidakke formal settlement project.

photo shows talitha after the hillside club.

grass roots soccer (football)

today myself, daz and our dutch sports management student (bart) visited an amazing project in khayelitsha built by fifa but run by grass roots soccer. the project has an astroturf 5 a side pitch and a classroom/support room, toilets and offices, all set against a backdrop of tin shacks right in the middle of one of the largest townships in africa.

whilst we were there the pitch was being used by a class of 5-6 year olds from a local school. it was wonderful to see sport and especially soccer bring hope to a much needy community. the facility seemed to be a real hub and maybe to add on health and welfare care facilities at the same venue would be a real win.

now we would love to see this style of facility rolled out to some of the open spaces in grabouw, ok the investment might be huge but the long term benefits to the community are beyond measure....can we make this happen?....i have faith but only God knows!