Giving children hope through sport and play – a Christmas campaign

Everyday life for the children in Imizamo Yethu is hard: living in makeshift huts or on the streets, experiencing violence and illness from a very young age. Help Imizamo Yethu e.V. wants to give the children a break from this daily reality this Christmas. Please support our sports and play projects. Give the children of Imizamo Yethu the gift of hope.*

Eddie knows from personal experience what sport and team spirit can achieve. His mother left him when he was 9; he was raised by his grandmother and lived on the streets of Johannesburg for a long time. Yet, at the age of ten, he founded his first football team; sport helped him get through this difficult time. Today, he volunteers twice a week to coach children in Imizamo Yethu. The “Rising Stars” are one of 21 football clubs in IY and consist of two teams: the Juniors (18 children under the age of 10) and the Seniors (17 children under the age of 15). However, neither the coach nor the children or their parents have the money for balls and kit. As a result, over 30 children usually train barefoot with three ancient balls. We would like to support the “Rising Stars” with balls, kits and so on, so that Eddie can continue to offer the children an escape from their difficult daily lives.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” (Nelson Mandela). Yet in South Africa, there is a deep divide in the educational landscape. The situation in state schools is more than inadequate; a good education still costs money. Money that parents in Imizamo Yethu cannot afford. The Bright Start educational support programme has set itself the goal of giving children from disadvantaged families a chance. Thanks to Bright Start, 17 children are currently attending nursery, pre-school or primary school, which provides them with a proper education and thus a better future. School fees are funded by donations. However, there is always a shortage of swimming costumes, tracksuits, trainers and other sports equipment for the children. We would like to bring some joy to these children this Christmas and fund the urgently needed sports equipment.

In the heart of Imizamo Yethu lies the Noluthando Day Care Centre, a nursery for children from families in need. Forty-five children aged between 7 months and 5 years come to the small building every day. Here, many of them receive their only meals of the day and a loving environment. Help IY has been supporting Noluthando (“place of love” in the Xhosa language) for some time, including through monthly food donations and stationery such as crayons and paper. Although the parents pay a small contribution, there is still a shortage of everything. This includes toys. We want to give the children the joy of movement this Christmas, for example with a small trampoline or balls – and thus offer them hope at the start of what is sure to be a difficult life.