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Algoa FM presenters, Kaycee Rossouw and Vinny Ngomane spent an afternoon training rugby with the boys who form part of the Junior School of Excellence Programme. This programme is one of the many projects run by UNITED THROUGH SPORTS, beneficiary to The Color Run.
They run their mass participation sports programme at 83 different disadvantaged schools in Port Elizabeth, reaching 18 000 scholars in total. Scholars are identified by the teachers and principals at these disadvantaged schools as having potential to excel and the programme is run for 3 months. Although the key focus of the programme is sport, evaluation is also based on academic performance and overall motivation and drive to succeed.
Based on individual performance, after 3 months some of these learners will get the opportunity to enter the Junior School of Excellence programme. Upon successful completion, the best from this group of learners will be selected to further their high school career at formerly known Model C schools including Pearson High School, Victoria Park and St Georges. UNITED THROUGH SPORTS support them with fees, school uniform and transport as well as mentorship or any other needs that arise throughout their 5 years at their new school.
At present there are a total of 90 children who have been entered into the Junior School of Excellence programme. This programme is run for one year with training taking place from Monday-Thursday from 14h30-16h30, each day focussing on a different area of development. On Thursday’s the focus is Sports Training, (rugby, netball, hockey and tennis).
“We piloted our project from Isaac Booi Secondary School 8 years ago. The reason we selected this school is because they had a solid foundation; one of the teachers is an EP rugby coach and many of the other teachers are committed to developing their learners and their community”, says Director of United Through Sports, Nick Mould.
“In the township Isaac Booi Secondary produces the most talented sports individuals therefore most of the learners in the programme come from this school”.
“Although The Color Run is not a charity event, we are delighted that the organisers have selected a sporting charity to plough back into the community. As the music and media partner that is very lifestyle and community focussed, we value the role that sport plays in the upliftment of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro,” Managing Director of Algoa FM, Dave Tiltmann.
The hosing of The Color Run in Port Elizabeth is a boost for tourism in the Nelson Mandela Bay region.
Known all over the world as “The Happiest 5k on the Planet”, the fun race will be run on Spring Day, September 1 – which is also the start of tourism month.
Participants set off wearing white – anything from white T-shirts to white tutus.
Volunteers shower runners with clouds of brightly-coloured powder at each kilometre mark – they go from white to yellow, red, blue and then purple over the course of the run.
The powder used is made from eco-friendly coloured corn-starch and food-grade colouring.
The race ends with a colour-throwing party where Color Runners and spectators get to make the world a brighter place, turning the finish line into what CNN iReport described as looking “like a tie-dye convention”.
Entries are open for The Color Run™ 5k event in PE. To enter, visit www.thecolorrun.co.za, or pick up an entry form at Brian Band Sports in Newton Park, News Café at the Boardwalk, or the Zports in Sydenham.
