In the nick of time the sizzling KwaZulu-Natal summer heat and humidity abated; for the first school holidays sports clinic in Slangspruit!

A 21 year old South African fellow Jaco Potgieter and I met fortuitously (as are so many connections for Ukulapha), chatted about Slangspruit School and sports, or rather lack thereof, and he offered his Friday afternoons to teach sports at the school. Meantime, with Easter holidays looming, he offered to run a sports clinic for 3 days. What a coup!

Jaco is a student at UKZN here in Pietermaritzburg and he also teaches rugby at Hilton College and St. Charles College. He actually attended St. Charles on rugby scholarship; sports run through his veins it would seem!


It was a cool and damp Monday morning, 830am and kids were gathering at the school. Since there are no school playing fields, we’d managed to get the municipality to mow the fields below the school, an improvement but no smooth sports field as you can see!

True to African time, youngsters drifted along and ultimately we counted 300 that first day as we prepared to make sandwiches for all! Over the following 2 days we had at least 200 keen youngsters participating each day despite the cool, damp weather; from little 6 year olds to high school age. Its fun loading a supermarket trolley with 50 loaves bread 3 days in a row, with the staff wondering; ‘do you run a day-care?’...and when I told them their faces lit up with joy and disbelief.....so it goes!
Mantombi was a great help to Jaco translating instructions to the kiddies. And men from the community came to see what was happening and landed up helping and returning the following days if they could. One of the school teachers Mr. Nxumalo spent Monday helping and I think thoroughly enjoyed himself as did the other men. A young man Sifizile, who is in grade 12 at a local school was passing by and came to help on Tuesday and then Wednesday. He has a passion for running and Jaco took him to the track after sports clinic and identified him as a really talented athlete who has already won some prizes.  Given his talent and the fact that he came both days to volunteer his services, and will come Friday afternoons to help Jaco; Ukulapha rewarded his community spirit with a decent pair of running shoes, much to his delight.

L- Eliott & Mr. Nxumalo in front R side             L-R Jaco, Sifizile and Elliot

Khethiwe and her ‘catering team’ worked hard and fast making all those sandwiches and mixing the juice, lining up the children and distributing the food. For treats, Monday all got suckers, Tuesday chips and Wednesday lunch bars. The youngsters’ sheer delight is so infectious and to absorb their pure pleasure just to be cared about and involved in activity, fun and food during a time when they’d just be hanging around idly watching time go by and maybe getting up to mischief!

Ukulapha is working on having the municipal fields adequately prepared and maintained for regular sports activities as part of our ongoing intention around improving learning and teaching conditions at Slangspruit Primary School. There is already a marked difference in the morale of the children; and whenever Aunty Carolyn is around they have come to believe (justifiably!) something positive is going to happen! I have to tell you of the sheer joy and love I receive from all those dear little faces and souls as I have the pure privilege and pleasure of translating donations to activity and reality on the ground; thank you ever so much. All the moral support that comes my way keeps my tank well topped up; I appreciate every morsel!

Khethiwe far right, Mantombi (‘Carolyn’s kid’!) 3rd from right, Philile far left (one of the group of 4 Carolyn mentors)

 

Winning relay team, with their coach Sifizile & their trophy

Sports clinic aims to be an event every school holiday period and hopefully Jaco’s buddies will come and help as well. The school children and community are accustomed to umlungu (Zulu for white person) from Canada since many have visited; now slowly there are local umlungu coming to the township to share their caring, their skills and time. I sincerely believe this will facilitate healing in South Africa, as umlungu share skills, talents, time, curiosity and caring; so well received and rewarding for all....the proverbial win-win!

Little ones sharing exercise inside because of the weather whilst all others stretch before lunch.

Khethiwe’s son Sunny Boy; please stop by and visit us at Ukulapha one day!