As the world prepares to mark the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, Afrika Tikkun’s Uthando Centre imagines a world where the collective power of society is harnessed because the power of the girl child is being realised.
Uthando Centre based in Braampark is committed to the upliftment of girls and young women from the surrounding communities of Hillbrow, Berea, Yeoville and Soweto. One of Uthando’s initiatives that is currently advancing this aim of upliftment mixes sport and self-advocacy to create empowerment.
When it comes to developing girls and young women, one of the jewels in Uthando Centre’s crown is the establishment of the Young Urban Women’s (YUW) Netball League, and this is certainly not your run-of-the-mill league.
This unique sports programme combines sports with Afrika Tikkun’s YUW self-advocacy group. The initiative gives all young women who come to play netball in the league an opportunity to access important life skills.
Before sports expert, Thomas Taole and sports facilitator, Dominic Moitsi partnered with the Johannesburg Netball Association to establish the YUW Netball League, there was no league to speak of in central Joburg.
Moitsi pointed out that this was disappointing for young women in the area. “Sport not only grants opportunities for personal advancement but also keeps youth in disadvantaged areas focused and better able to cope with difficult circumstances.”
Lerato Moyo, Uthando’s life skills and YUW facilitator, said that the netball league is the perfect opportunity to spark change in the lives of young women from all over inner-city Johannesburg. “This netball league is an opportunity to reach more young women and get them informed and engaged around important issues like access to teen-friendly clinics.”
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