Youth Day brings kids together in Masi

Tuesday 16th June was Youth Day in South Africa and our coaches brought a small crowd of children together in the Community Square at Masiphumelele to engage with them for a few hours and provide a small hot snack after their activities. All children and coaches adhered to social distancing and hand washing measures throughout the day's activities. Many thanks must go to Alex and Yanga for preparing the Braai for everyone involved, including the parents we were delighted who could attended.

 

The thinking behind the program was to remind the youth about the importance of the day, the youth of 1976 led by Hector Peterson and the likes of Tsietsi Mashinini and what kind of education and life they fought for. How relevant 1976 is to what we are facing today. 

Rugby has a role to play like it did in 1995 and 2019, but it is important that it makes a huge impact at the lowest level of our society, that it become a social platform which can address some reforms. 

With Coach Xolani putting together some fantastic posters to highlight the main theme of the event, the team were proud to stand firm against gender-based violence. Coach Frank said, “Rugby is saying enough is enough.” After the Chat everyone was served with a something to eat and drinks at the Community hall. The children were served first as per tradition because it is about them and none of this would happen without them.

The Plan for the day: 

• Address the issue of gender violence 
• Importance of following personal hygiene for COVID19 
• Address alcohol abuse and cleanliness in the community. 
• Training session 
• Play fun games of mixed netball teams and touch Rugby teams 

The training session with the kids was about 30 minutes, with Xolani focusing on conditioning and Frank on ball skills, after that the kids played 30 minutes of mixed team netball. We were delighted to invite the Netball Girls to be a part of the day as well and discuss the important issues which we looked to address. The kids were given time to play some touch rugby for about 40 minutes afterwards and the day finished with the senior men’s rugby team playing as well.

 

We are beyond proud of the work our coaches are doing with us at Atlas and for the positive mindsets all round, which help to make the whole day a wonderful success.  For an event which was organised at short notice, to attract more than 50 participants and the attention of the onlookers and some members of the community, the team were thrilled and keen to see more of these gatherings grow, with the next target for Madiba Day on 18^th July. 

 

A very generous monthly contribution from the Silver Hippos, Richmond Heavies and a number of individuals is most appreciated by Atlas and indeed by John le Roux who ensures that it gets to the right kids for their monthly meals. 

 

We are working on establishing the Masi High School field and hoping to have it cleared, grassed up, marked and rugby posts installed so that we bring opportunity, dignity and pride in the community to this wonderful game…that will be a game changer in all ways and so very needed.