Sandringham’s Jacoba takes good care of the educational needs of children at Paterson Park Recreation Centre

Joburg African Children Of Bright Aspirations (Jacoba) offers educational activities to local children as part of their social responsibility programme.

Predominantly known as a football academy in Sandringham, Jacoba also runs a coeducational centre in Norwood at the Paterson Park Recreation Centre.

According to the founder and chairman of Jacoba, Dimitri Athanasopoulos, the centre assists children with various educational after-school programmes.

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Athanasopoulos said the centre also catered for children who needed assistance in various educational activities.

“We assist them with either their homework or to better themselves in subjects that they might struggle with or an area they wish to improve.

“This also includes reading, spelling and writing and they are taught by qualified teachers that work at St John’s College and Pridwin Prep School in support of Jacoba,” he said.

Athanasopoulos said through this coeducational centre, children experienced education through another lens.

He said classes were not overcrowded, they were visually stimulating and individualised attention was available when needed for all children.

He said Jacoba rewarded positive behaviour and healthy competition among teammates which provided the motivation to outperform one another in all activities.

“This instills self-esteem and promotes independence, teaching good values like honesty, friendship and respect as well as teaching good time management skills,” said Athanasopoulos.

Without this initiative, most of these children would be without guidance, role models and a stimulatory environment, he added.

Details: Dimitri Athanasopoulos 0722415079

Go to www.northeasterntribune.co.za to read about other good initiatives in the area.