In partnership with Sporting Chance, a leading sports coaching and development organisation, holiday programmes take place on an ongoing basis in Motherwell, Mdantsane, Dennilton, Diepsloot and KwaMashu.
The programmes aim to contribute to the communities surrounding the Community Property Fund (“Comprop”) shopping centres through life skills education and participation in sport which keeps children occupied in a positive activity and away from social ills during the school holidays.
The Diepsloot Mall Sporting Chance Programme was the first programme to be established in the Comprop portfolio in 2015. The programme is managed by Ngoako Ramolesana, who is from the Diepsloot community and he emphasises the importance of this programme, “Gangs in the community are targeting youth, but positive programmes like these keep our youth away from the negative influences” he says. His sentiments are echoed by Mokgadi Rameetse, Diepsloot Mall Centre Manager “The holiday programmes play a vital role in Diepsloot. During the school holidays many kids are left home alone while their parents go to work. The programme helps to keeps them safe and deters them from roaming the streets unsupervised” she says.
The programmes also play a role in the identification of young talent. Through the Moutse Mall Sporting Chance Programme, a player was identified and has been enrolled at the SAFA Transnet Football School of Excellence in Gauteng and another player was identified to train with the AmaZulu Football Team in KwaZulu-Natal where he is training towards being signed to their Under 13 team.
The schools surrounding the Comprop shopping centres do not have the facilities or resources for extracurricular activities such as sport or physical education and these programmes, particularly the final tournament days, are well supported by the community “These programmes keep the children engaged in an activity that differs to their normal school routine. I really enjoy the vibe and atmosphere that this programme brings to the centre, especially by family members and friends who come to watch their children play sport” says Wellington Sijovu, Kuyasa Centre Manager.
The Comprop Sporting Chance Programmes provide employment for one coordinator and 10 coaches from each community. 70 holiday programmes have taken place since 2015 accommodating over 8 700 children aged between 9 and 13 years.