In many homes across Alexandra, words of pride and encouragement are rare, and for some children, no one ever tells them, ‘I’m proud of you,’ said Chris Ndlovu, project manager at Thusong Youth Centre.

That is why, for him, the recent award ceremony at the centre was far more than a handing out of medals. “We were not just handing out medals for judo, squash and dance; we were saying to these children, ‘We see you. Your hard work matters,’” Ndlovu said.

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On 26 June, the Thusong Youth Centre turned those words into action during an award ceremony that honoured the participants of the Thusong Holistic Wellness and Fitness Project. Sixty children, some as young as nine, had spent months training and growing in three focus areas, including dance, judo, and squash. Many competed in tournaments, pushing themselves to new levels.

The children received medals for their commitment and participation, while top achievers were awarded trophies. In squash, Mpendulo Magazi, Ndabezinhle Sithole, Thakgatso Sefale, and Neo Molope were celebrated for showing remarkable performance during the tournaments. In Jjdo, Thakgatso Sefale, Bueti Maboko, Amogelang Phalane, and Tumelo Tshabalala earned yellow belts for strong performances, while Tumelo Manaka received a green belt for excellent achievement.

Project coordinator Thumeka Joos said that the awards carried a deeper message. “We see you growing,” she said.

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“Youth Month gave us a reason to say it out loud. We hope the discipline, respect and self-belief they earned here become the foundation they carry into every season of their life.”

She said through this project, the children learned discipline, gained respect, dignity and a greater sense of their own well-being.

For many of these young participants, the experience has gone far beyond sport. Coming from difficult backgrounds, they now walk with greater confidence, knowing they belong to something bigger. On the day of the ceremony, Ndlovu said they all stood tall in their kits and medals, not just as children from Alex, but as athletes, artists and future leaders.

The centre is determined to expand the programme so that even more children from poor backgrounds can benefit. “It is not only about the awards they got but the habits we are trying to build. We saw the outcomes and that if we join hands and try to unite young people, we can do more,” Joos said.

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