Youth Alive Sports Project scoops award at Johannesburg Women in Sports Awards

The winner of the Volunteer of the Year award, Precious Hlaka, thanked the entire community for its continued support.

Hlaka is a Diepsloot resident, the founder of non-profit organisation Youth Alive Sport Project Programme and Lonehill-based Fitness For Africa club coach. She received the award at the prestigious Johannesburg Women in Sports Awards ceremony recently. “I just want to thank the community at large for their continued support throughout my career in the sports industry. Through their support and interactions, I’ve learned, I’ve grown and I’ve identified ways on how one can uplift more youngsters through sports within my community,” she said.

She also thanked her family for always supporting her, even when the journey was difficult. “They carried me emotionally and helped me cope to keep going,” she said.

In March, the organisation received a Community Sports Project of the Year award at the Gauteng Women in Sports Awards. The gala dinner was held by the provincial Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation. She said since the inception of the organisation, she has been receiving immense support.

She urged parents to give support to aspiring young athletes, especially young girls. “We call upon all members of the community to give support to young people in sports. The majority of our young people end up in drugs and substance abuse because they don’t get support in what keeps them away from bad company.”