NYDA hosts massive sports event and clean-up campaign
The NYDA together with the relevant stakeholders on Saturday provided more than 140 youths with an opportunity to play various sports in Salvokop.
More than 140 youths took part in a huge sports day event at the Jopie Fourie primary school in Salvokop on Saturday.
The event was hosted by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to celebrate late former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday, which is on July 18.
His birthday was declared International Mandela Day in 2009 to be commemorated by people across the world annually to honour Mandela by helping their communities.
“We want to encourage young people to participate in community development activities,” NYDA representative Portia Maboya told Rekord.
On the day, they had the health and wellbeing programme consisting of various sports activities including netball, soccer, tug-of-war and athletics.
The event began with a clean-up campaign.
“We cleaned up dirty areas and put all the trash at proper places for the municipality to come and collect it,” Maboya said, adding that the event was a major success.
Various stakeholders including Special Olympics South Africa and various NPOs took part.
“We are honoured to be here today so that we can give the youth an opportunity to play sports and have fun,” said Special Olympics South Africa initiative manager Waga Manyala.
Manyala said playing sport helped keep youths off the streets and possibly getting involved with drugs.
Tshwane Leadership Foundation representative pastor Joel Mayephu praised the NYDA for hosting the sports event in the area.
“This event gives our youth a chance to express their God-given talents,” Mayephu said, adding he was grateful for the NYDA’s initiative.
Participant, Paradise Sithole (14), said he was excited to be taking part.
“To be honest, this event was one of the best I have ever attended because I really love soccer,” Sithole said.
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