Sport and Health Day for 500 Rural Farm Workers and children

On Saturday, 15 August  our Youth in Construction youth group and the visitors from King Edward VI hosted a SPORT AND HEALTH DAY for about 500 rural farm workers and children living on 32 farms in the Riebeeksrivier Valley. The theme for the day was …..the beginning…..(of what you may ask – more Saturdays on farms where farm worker parents and children can experience life’s joys together!) and the main aim was to give everyone involved an opportunity to learn more about HIV/AIDs, TB, receive training in First Aid, indigenous games and sport codes like netball, rugby and soccer. We included a fun run and training on how to ride a bicycle to spice up the day even further. It was great fun watching a seven year old child and some 50 year old adults holding on to the bicycles very tight and too afraid to let go of the handles (not forgetting the smiles of the biggest achievement ever of course!) as they experienced their first ever bicycle rides. This was made possible by our own Community Cycles Project which is based in Riebeek Kasteel.

The day’s festivities took off at the Goedgedacht Amphitheatre where everyone got a chance to get to know more about Goedgedacht’s Path out of Poverty Programme and learnt how to dance the macarina! As you can see in the picture there are some of us that still need a lot of practice….When the muscles were warm enough about 250 people hit the gravel road up the Valley to complete the 6km fun run. I decided to join in and to my surprise managed to finish the race (I will not say after how many minutes or hours) while taking pictures along the way!  Thanks to Inspector Lategan and his local police officials we managed to avoid all the cows and sheep along the way and completed the race safe and sound.

As Karen Hendricks, the last person to finish the race, came limping into the gate of the Goedgedacht sports arena everyone cheered her on in appreciation of her courage to start and finish the race despite the fact that it was quite uphill and it being her first time participating in a fun run. Well done Karen! You have been a true sport as well as everyone who participated in the race.

                 

It was a truly magical day for all of us involved and thanks to the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport everyone received two much needed meals (breakfast and lunch) for the day.

Our grateful thanks to all our staff, the facilitators of the various sport codes, indigenous games, first aid, bicycle, HIV/AIDs and TB training, all the paticipants, the drivers, caterers, farmers, all our funders, King Eward VI School and last but not least our Youth in Construction youth group for making this day such a huge success.

 

Little Justin told me that he is going to practice very hard till next year to make sure that he finishes alongside me in the fun run next year! I hope to see you next year. When? Where? Keep reading our blog to catch up on all the news of Goedgedacht Trust!

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