Vermaaklikheid children need sports

Abe Pretorius grew up in Vermaaklikheid. As a youngster, there was no dedicated place for children to kick a ball around, so they played in the street or someone’s yard.  They dreamed of a grassy field where they could play their favourite sport: football, rugby, netball or cricket.

Abe has helped make this dream a reality. He volunteers his time to support the current generation of children with healthy outdoor play. He also keeps the field maintained, by using his weed-eater and the occasional loan of a lawnmower from a kind resident.

We know how important it is for children to be able to have a safe place to develop physical skills but the benefits of outside play extend beyond exercise. Sport helps children make new friends, have fun, learn to be a team member, learn about play fair and improve their self-esteem.

With the help of GivenGain, and the Duiwenhoks Conservancy, Abe hopes to purchase a lawnmower, and employ a grounds person to do the necessary weekly maintenance.

Please contribute to the maintenance of the sports field for the children of Vermaaklikheid. Every donation helps. It’s simple to donate, click here now.  

Also please share this appeal in your network and help our kids to play.  

The Vermaaklikheid Sports Field Initiative

Phase Three: Providing for and ensuring the ongoing maintenance and management of the playing field and equipment

Purpose and Intention

The Vermaaklikheid community faces challenges that confront most rural communities in the Southern Cape: poverty, inadequate school facilities and limited employment opportunities.

To compound these problems Vermaaklikheid is isolated and many children do not complete their schooling. In addition a lack of any facilities for our under 18 year-old residents contributes to alcohol and drug abuse and the petty crime to support these habits.

There are approximately 90 children under the age of 18.

Progress to Date

The Vermaaklikheid Winkel Project is a non-profit association formed by a number of residents within Vermaaklikheid. The founders’ intention is for the Vermaaklikheid Winkel Project to serve as an association that facilitates the social development of the local community of Vermaaklikheid.  One of the first projects the concerned residents undertook was The Vermaaklikheid Sports Field Initiative.  To date, phases one and two have been completed.

Phase one: Community Engagement and an Assessment – Completed

In 2018, a number of concerned residents attempted to address some of these problems by initiating a consultative process that culminated in a survey of the community to assess the current situation. The survey focussed its inquiry around an achievable goal: the establishment of a multi-use playing field and providing sports equipment for the children of the village. The survey was returned with unanimous support for the facility from 35 households.

Phase two: Providing a useable playing field and basic equipment – Completed

  1. Secured the land needed for the field.
  2. Cleared the land of highly invasive and resilient reed and other weeds.
  3. Raised funds from local land owners (approximately R60 000) and installed an irrigation system and access to a water supply.
  4. Supported the establishment of indigenous grass.
  5. Provided half-sized football goals for children and youth. Rugby pole extensions are to be added shortly in response to the community’s needs.
  6. Provided a weed-eater to cut the grass

We now have a GivenGain fund-raiser for phase 3 of the Vermaaklikheid sports field.

Now we want to buy a lawnmower and employ a grounds person to ensure that the sports field grounds are maintained. We’re aiming for R24 200, which should cover a year’s maintenance, plus the purchase of a lawnmower.

If you can, please contribute to this initiative? Link is below. https://www.givengain.com/cause/53768/campaigns/23058/

GivenGain provides a secure, online donation and fundraising platform to charities, donors and fundraisers. All funds raised go directly to this initiative.