Tekiah Foundation is a registered non profit organisation who has launched an exciting initiative in the Steenberg/Retreat/Lavender Hill areas called the Tekiah Foundation Sports Program.
Tekiah Foundation approached primary schools – all previously disadvantaged and has launched a Life Skills Program, using sport as a tool.
Having started with soccer, we have taken over the coaching and managerial responsibilities of three soccer teams (u/11, u/13 boys and u/14 girls) at each school – a total of 12 teams or 180 kids.
Through this programme Tekiah Foundation plans to revive school sport in the Steenberg/Retreat/Lavender Hill areas by introducing different sports codes to the program and include more learners over the next 3 to 5 years.
Reason for running this program
After doing some research and having various discussions with school principals, parents, community leaders and the youth, we found the following:
- That a large percentage of people in these areas are unemployed and parents cannot afford extramural activities
- That backyard squatting is a normal way of life, resulting in living conditions not being conducive to raising healthy families with strong family values.
- That a large percentage of children are raised either without fathers or by parents who are affected by substance abuse. This kind of environment produces poverty and domestic violence.
- That there is a lack of adequate facilities and constructive programs for the youth in the community.
- That structures set up to support sports programs in government schools have broken down due to a lack of finances and support from the community.
- That schools and educators do not have the time or in most cases the required personnel or expertise to train and manage teams.
Tekiah Foundation is of the opinion that sport and recreation play an important part in young people’s lives and that it helps shape community identity. We believe that sport and recreation improves social cohesion and that it provides opportunities for social interaction and sharing of common interests, thus fostering community spirit.
Together with other role players Tekiah Foundation aims to us the medium of sport to bring awareness to youth by teaching them the importance of a good education, the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and the importance of making quality decisions which will ultimately create a platform for a successful life. We also believe that regeneration will only come to these communities when we foster access to sport, improve facilities and reinforce the positive role of sport and recreation.
Many surveyed respondents from these communities felt sport and recreational activities play a major role in these areas and contribute toward the development of their youth in the following ways:
Ø It provides a platform from where youth can meet and interact while pursuing structured, purposeful activities.
Ø It encourages people from different backgrounds to work and play together in a positive way.
Ø It gives youth of all ages the opportunity to be actively involved in their communities.
Ø It teaches youth positive lessons about responsibility and respect for other people and their property.
Ø It instils discipline and produces a sense of belonging.
Ø It provides a significant platform for family members to get to know one another better while actively participating in, volunteering at and attending sport events together.
These programs will reduce juvenile crime because it provides young people with challenges, adventure and a sense of purpose. In our view, sport can foster confidence, leadership skills and self respect, as long as the sport or recreational activity has strong educational underpinnings.
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