Transforming lives through United Through Sport South Africa’s Mass Participation Programme
This project's parent organization is United Through Sport
It operates in South Africa
It uses Multiple sports, Winter sports , Indigenous games
Entered the Sport for Health and Well-being Award
More about Transforming lives through United Through Sport South Africa’s Mass Participation Programme
The right to play, health and education is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The reality in South Africa, however, is that many children not only lack opportunities to play and have access to quality education and health services, they also grow up in a township (underdeveloped, segregated urban area) with high levels of poverty, crime and unemployment. In addition, most schools do not offer structured sport in the disadvantaged areas of the country.
Children and youth in the townships thus often have no possibilities or spaces to interact with one another in healthy and meaningful activities. As a result, misuse of drugs and alcohol, obesity, learning difficulties because of low self-esteem, as well as underaged sex and the spread of HIV and AIDS are major challenges associated with the unattended township youth. Our Mass Participation Programme aims to reach as many children in as many schools as possible, by using sport as a tool to promote healthy lifestyles in disadvantaged areas of Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa - through structured sport coaching and life skills training.