A new initiative aimed at keeping children off the streets and away from gangs and drugs by involving them in sport was launched last week.
A dinner at the Arabella Sheraton saw the official launch of the JAG Sports and Education Foundation, headed by Olympic medalist Elana Meyer. The foundation joins various sports and education campaigns with a common goal of helping children become involved in various sports.
According to Ms Meyer, the future of South Africa depends on nourishing and growing children and protecting them from threats such as gangsterism and drugs.
With that in mind the foundation has also teamed up with Gayton McKenzie, who is a reformed prisoner and gang member.
Since being released from prison and being instrumental in establishing the Jali Comission of Inquiry , which exposed corruption in prisons, he has turned his attentions to inspiring youth and giving motivational talks for various groups and schools.
Even before the official launch, the foundation was lending a hand to young sports enthusiasts in Cape Town by raising funds for Trafalgar High School’s touch rugby team. The team successfully defended its world championship title at the Federation of International Touch in Singapore.
The foundation also sponsored three teams to attend the Homeless World Cup, which was held in Cape Town last year.
Greg James, founder of the foundation and managing director of JAG Investment Group, said that sport ties in closely with a sense of achievement and self-worth. “We want to keep children out of trouble.”
In addition to telling his story, Mr Mckenzie encourages children to get involved in sporting programmes while their parents are at work.
Also at the launch was Kenyan marathon runner Tegla Loroupe, who was influential in building the foundation. Having achieved in her profession, she has remained in Kenya to form a Peace Foundation to encourage children to participate in road running. She is also working with warring tribes to use sport to reduce tensions. And now she is planning to introduce road running programmes at schools in poor areas around South Africa.
The JAG Sports and Education Foundation has already donated funds to her to build a school in Kapenguria.
Once completed, the school will have a sports training centre and will cater for orphans affected y HIV/Aids and violence in the region.
Mr James has based the foundation’s programme on the New York Road Runner’s Foundation, which works with children in the United States and aims to keep them off the streets.
There are over 20 000 children a week from over 150 schools and community centres participate in the Foundation’s programmes.
In South Africa Ms Meyer and other sports celebrities and teachers will coach children and adapt the road running programme to suit the country’s needs.
“Although we will focus on running, the JAG Sports and Education Foundation will become involved in all types of sports, such as street soccer, cricket and rugby,” said Ms Meyer.
Source: Cape Towner, April 12 2007
Author: Terri Dunbar-Curran
Contact Information:
info@jagfoundation.com
0027 021 7027880