Lord Mawhinney Opens Sports Centre in South Africa
- 16 June 2010 |
- Joe McTague
The centre, designed to provide a safe and secure environment for young people to enjoy sport throughout the year is the result of a partnership between UK based charity Hope Through Action and local sport and development practitioners, SCORE.
Mbekweni, a township located near Cape Town, has high incidences of HIV/AIDS and 40,000 residents living below the poverty line.
As local businessman, Dale Fobian, who has been involved in the project from the start, expressed:
"Hope Through Action has worked with community leaders and local schools… to design a facility to meet the needs of young people of all abilities and backgrounds."
The new centre is equipped with a third generation multi-sports pitch, training rooms, changing rooms and seating for 400 people, the centre also includes facilities for coaching netball and volleyball whilst a partnership with Saracens Rugby Club will provide world class rugby coaching.
"Today we have dedicated this centre to the young people of Mbekweni," said Lord Mawhinney. "Throughout the world, the provision of quality football facilities has a huge impact on health, community pride and crime reduction. I have no doubt that the building of this new sports centre for the young people of the township will have a similarly positive impact locally."
Alongside the sporting opportunities it provides, the centre is integrated with a number of sustainable development programmes addressing health, welfare, business development, sports excellence and leadership.SCORE has already started working with the young people in the area.
Claire Barrell, SCORE’s area co-ordinator said:
"In order to get the community ready for the launch of the facility, activities such as volleyball in the high schools, girl’s football in the primary schools and a number of workshops focused on empowering community youth with leadership and life-skills have been held."
"The launch has seen mixed gender teams from each school in Mbekweni, as well as community clubs compete in mixed 5-aside football, netball and volleyball. With the 2010 World Cup and the facility launch, Mbekweni community has double reason to be excited".
Visit the Hope Through Action website and find out more about SCORE
Mbekweni, a township located near Cape Town, has high incidences of HIV/AIDS and 40,000 residents living below the poverty line.
As local businessman, Dale Fobian, who has been involved in the project from the start, expressed:
"Hope Through Action has worked with community leaders and local schools… to design a facility to meet the needs of young people of all abilities and backgrounds."
The new centre is equipped with a third generation multi-sports pitch, training rooms, changing rooms and seating for 400 people, the centre also includes facilities for coaching netball and volleyball whilst a partnership with Saracens Rugby Club will provide world class rugby coaching.
"Today we have dedicated this centre to the young people of Mbekweni," said Lord Mawhinney. "Throughout the world, the provision of quality football facilities has a huge impact on health, community pride and crime reduction. I have no doubt that the building of this new sports centre for the young people of the township will have a similarly positive impact locally."
Alongside the sporting opportunities it provides, the centre is integrated with a number of sustainable development programmes addressing health, welfare, business development, sports excellence and leadership.SCORE has already started working with the young people in the area.
Claire Barrell, SCORE’s area co-ordinator said:
"In order to get the community ready for the launch of the facility, activities such as volleyball in the high schools, girl’s football in the primary schools and a number of workshops focused on empowering community youth with leadership and life-skills have been held."
"The launch has seen mixed gender teams from each school in Mbekweni, as well as community clubs compete in mixed 5-aside football, netball and volleyball. With the 2010 World Cup and the facility launch, Mbekweni community has double reason to be excited".
Visit the Hope Through Action website and find out more about SCORE
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