KFC celebrates youth excellence this Youth Month
Since the start of their partnership in 2010, the KFC Mini Cricket programme worked on spreading the game of cricket to where it now hosts 126 000 young cricketers annually.
Former South African president and philanthropist Nelson Mandela said that sport can play a role in uniting people in divided societies. Sport speaks to the youth in a language they understand and it has the power to create hope where once there was only despair.
The programme does not only successfully get children physically active but also plays a role in positively developing the children’s mental, social, and emotional well-being. KFC Mini Cricket programme participants learn to play for a goal within a team environment which encourages soft skills like focus, communication and helps improve friendship.
Focus is also placed on teamwork and leadership, which can pave a foundation for a successful professional cricketing career or a career outside cricket. The KFC Mini Cricket Programme is also a foundation for youth who aspire to be professional cricketers one day as players such as Sinethemba Qeshile, Janneman Malan and Lutho Sipamla have seen their hard work and dreams come to fruition when they made their debuts for South Africa in the KFC international T20 Series.
“As we commemorate Youth Month, we are proud to play part in empowering the youth of South Africa through our partnership with CSA with the KFC Mini Cricket programme which has ensured that over a million children get active through our 11 years of involvement in this prestigious programme.” KFC CSI manager Andra Nel said. “KFC’s youth empowerment goes beyond our involvement with the KFC Mini Cricket programme as outside of cricket. KFC has launched the Ikusasa Lethu scholarship programme which provides quality education to our team member’s children. “We also continue to tackle malnutrition through the KFC Add hope programme which raises funds to feed over 150 000 children in South Africa. Through all these programmes KFC continues to invest in the future of South Africa,” said Nel.
