A boot camp initiative by Sphamandla Gumede is attracting a number of youngsters in Vryheid townships as he uses aerobics as well as motivational sessions in a fight to curb substance abuse in the townships. From Friday until Sunday, the youngsters gather to exercise for a healthy mind and body, and this boot camp is not limited to youngsters, as there are also grown-ups who take part. This boot camp includes Bhekuzulu Old and New Locations, Ghetto and Sasko. One of the community members (who is also from the Department of Education), Nosipho Madela, said this was a great initiative for the children in the area. “This assists them not to think about anything related to alcohol and drugs, because all they think about is gym. What I like the most is that it is not just about gym only, but there are also sessions where we instill discipline, confidence and professionalism,” said Madela. She added that, “For the young girls, it helps them not to fall into the trap of getting involved in relationships at a young age, which will therefore help us fight teenage pregnancy when we know our children are occupied with something positive. A healthy body is a healthy mind. It is easier to motivate someone with a healthy mind, so we also warn them against peer pressure”. Also read: Introducing the Vryheid Recovery Centre The founder of this programme, Sphamandla Gumede, said, “The whole purpose is to fight drug abuse, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and obesity, especially in children and women. I do not just give them physical training, but also instill discipline, motivate them and guide them in career choices. A lot of parents have shown support for this initiative; some even come out to watch their children while we are training. I also give them meal plans because we are faced with obesity in our communities and a lot of women are struggling with belly fat, so I ensure that I guide them even on the days when we are not training. “I have a number of dedicated children and some of them do not have training shoes, so from my own pocket, I have ensured that I buy them training shoes because we do not have any sponsors. These are dedicated children who never miss a day of training, even when it is cold or raining, hence I felt the need to ensure that they continue to enjoy being part of this project”. He also said that while they educate young girls about pregnancy, “we would like to also see more boys be part of this because these girls do not impregnate themselves, so a boy child also needs to be groomed accordingly”. Gumede then requested a donation of a building where they can train, since summer is approaching. “We are using an open field in all these areas in Ghetto and Sasko, but as you know, in summer, the weather is unpredictable, so we would appreciate it if we can have someone who can sponsor us with an open plan building that we can utilise and hopefully that will attract even more people to take part”. For more details on how to join the boot camp, contact Gumede on 071-237-3753.
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