On 29 July Maccabi WP teamed up with Herzlia to take part in a Gemilut Chasadim programme at the CTCten SafeHub in Khayelitsha. The programme uses sport to teach life skills to the children at the SafeHub.
SafeHub is a sport (specifically soccer) and life skills organisation, where children from Khayelitsha come to play soccer after school. Apart from the sports training, they are offered life skills lessons which help them deal with challenges that arise in young people’s lives.
Players start from as young as five years old and extends to those round the age of 17.
Maccabi decided to run this particular programme for younger children in the 7-9 age group.
These kids have created a league, with a difference. Their league is called The Fair Play League. The game is the same, however the rules in terms of behaviour and sportsmanship differ. You get points for demonstrating teamwork, showing respect, dealing with frustration positively and dealing with setbacks. Points are allocated for this as well as goals scored.
The Maccabi players prepared activities to play with the CTCten players. The emphasis of these activities was on teamwork, showing respect, dealing with frustration positively, as well as setbacks, all through playing sports activities. The children also played various soccer matches which everyone enjoyed thoroughly.
At the end of the day Maccabi donated sports equipment, clothes, books, shoes and stationary to the CTCten children. The day was enjoyed by all with Maccabi looking to do another programme soon.
