Constantia Rotary gives Philippi a sporting chance
Constantia Rotary Club has helped to level the playing field for children in Philippi by unveiling a R3 million multi-purpose sports facility at a primary school there.
Siyazakha Primary School now has a synthetic grass 7-a-side soccer field, a synthetic grass sprint track, three cricket nets, a netball court, a long-jump pit, a running circuit and high jump equipment.
And two full-time coaches have been appointed by the Sporting Chance Foundation to make sure the field gets used to its full potential.
Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Ricardo Mackenzie, deputy mayor Eddie Andrews, mayoral committee member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross and Rotary District D9350 governor Stephen Young were at the launch on Thursday October 3.
According to Constantia Rotarian Geoff von Klemperer, Siyazakha Primary is the third school to benefit from the club's partnerships with its sponsors, and the club is talking to the provincial education department about helping a fourth school.
“The first one three years ago was Westlake Primary. The second was Capricorn Primary School. The third is Siyazhaka. And the fourth, already in planning, is Grosvenor Primary at Atlantis, where there's 70% unemployment,” Mr Von Klemperer said.
Siyazakha Primary School’s old field had been in a "hazardous state", said the principal, Nomalizo Memani, adding that the new facility would help to give the school’s 1400 pupils a well-rounded education.
“By doing the sports grounds, the one learner who is struggling in the classroom has a space where they can show their potential,” she said, thanking the Rotary club.
Philiswa Gungqwua, who represented ward councillor Melikhaya Gadeni, said the new facility would help to keep children away from crime and drugs in the community.
“I would also like to give the assurance to the principal that we will always continue working with the school to make sure that the school is safe."
Thanking the Constantia Rotary Club on behalf of the people of Philippi and the Western Cape government, Mr Mckenzie said school sport had great benefits for a community.
"The value of what you've done by investing in a facility such as this you might not see next week or next year. It will be the next Olympics.“
He urged the community to protect the facility from vandalism.
“Let's look after this facility to ensure that these kids will have benefited from it for the next 10, 20 years,” he said.
Mr Young said such a facility could change lives for the better and build peace.
“It makes people happier. It makes people less angry and it allows them to see hope and to grow. So I want to congratulate everybody here for enabling this to happen. And I am sure that as a result of this, we will see netball players and hockey players coming out of this school and joining national teams. And we will see learners who are more confident and much better equipped to face the challenge of life as they go forward.“
