The Mataffin Sports Trust and Sports Unplugged have officially opened the Isinkwa Sethemba Bakery aimed at creating sustainable business employment opportunities for their sport-active members from various sporting codes.
The official opening took place at Woodhouse last Friday.
The initiative is centred around promoting gender equality and uplifting the youth. The bakery will also contribute towards sports’ economic development.
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George Stainton of Sports Unplugged said their aim is economic development through sports and community building.
“In our quest we develop and transform the lives of athletes affiliated with the trust from different sporting codes. We also support the youth in terms of education as we believe that education, sports and economic freedom goes hand in hand,”
he said.
Stainton further explained the employment placing. “Through our initiatives, the agreement is that the employees of the baking facilities will earn a salary, with excess funds being used to support the two community sports clubs, and they need to be active in sport.”
He said they would be working on other community developments projects. “The next major initiative is the Woodhouse Community Learning Centre that will be built alongside the bakery so that the community is served with IT centre needs in a safe educational hub for our Woodhouse community. With the help of the other sponsors like Bongani Rainmakers, Motswako Office Solutions and Orbic Architects, we will certainly develop this place.”
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Jaco de Jager is one of the sponsors pledged to support the bakery. “I will donate a portion of R10 000 from my salary every month to buy bread from this bakery and donate to local orphanages so that they can also have something to eat daily. This project will help the girls who will be working here and will address the issue of gender-based violence,” he said.
Luyanda Machava, one of the ladies who will work at the bakery, thanked the sponsors. “I would like to send our sincerest appreciation and thanks to everyone who contributed to this initiative. This bakery will make a difference in our lives and will unite the community through sport, and that makes me happy.”
