Dorcas Aid hosted Youth Day early for underprivileged children at the Cecil Payne Sports Stadium last Friday (13 June).
Teaming up with Afrihost and Joburg EMS, Dorcas Aid and volunteers set up a mini soccer league on the field. Children from Agape Village (Eldorado Park), Africa Outreach Ministries (Dobsonville) and Khulunolwazi Day Care (Doornkop) were split up in teams to play soccer. Dorcas kept to the Fifa World Cup-theme with trophies and medals to be handed out. Between games, children were treated to juice, orange slices and soup.
After the first games were played, Joburg EMS had a fun educational session with the children where they were taught about fire safety and learned the emergency numbers. Firefighter Kefilwe Mnguni (‘Fifi’ to the little ones) played various games with the children and sang with them. Reggie the Rhino, the official Joburg EMS mascot, assisted her in teaching them to ‘stop, drop and roll’.
Dorcas Aid fundraiser Nerine Niemand said that the day was more about the children than about soccer.
“This is our way, and the way of our sponsors, to give back to the community in celebration of Youth Day.
“Together, we can make a difference.”
The rest of South Africa will be celebrating Youth Day on Monday 16 June.
Dorcas Aid thanks those who made it possible:
• Agape Village, Africa Outreach Ministries and Khulunolwazi Day Care.
• City of Johannesburg Sport and Recreation Department
• City of Johannesburg EMS Pier Division
• ER 24
• Dunmar Security
• Blind Designs
• AfriHost
• Kevro Johannesburg
• Anchor Yeast
• Mrs Dunn
• Mrs Holtzhauzer
• Councillor Gert Niemand
• Councillor David Dewes
• Pastor Norman Pule
• All volunteers and supporters.