Birch Acres Sports Club hosts charity drive

The Light Work Birch Acres Sports Club recently hosted an Open Day Charity Drive to raise funds for the Tawana Children’s Home NPO.

Lubuto Chitibwi, the founder of Light Work Projects (LWP), said the event aimed to strengthen the role of sports development in the community, focusing on introducing tennis to children from the Tawana Children’s Home.

This initiative aligns with the vision of LWP, in partnership with the Birch Acres Tennis Club, to position the club as a leading community hub that supports recreational and professional athletes.

ALSO READ: Local NPO celebrates achievements at annual graduation ceremony

The event saw 16 children, aged eight to 16, from the Tawana Children’s Home participate. Many had never played tennis before, but their feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

They enjoyed the drills and felt inspired, with several expressing interest in continuing tennis with the club.

Chitibwi said the day introduced children to tennis, identified potential talent, fostered positive engagement, and highlighted sports as a possible career.

The event also contributed to ongoing fundraising efforts for the orphanage, including a raffle competition.

“Our Open Day provided a great introduction to the club’s training programmes and allowed the public to engage in play, bringing together sporting brands, individuals and the community through sports,” Chitibwi said.

Chitibwi explained that his involvement with the NPO began in 2023 when he worked as a youth church leader.

Since then, he has continued to support the home, which has since become the club’s official charity partner.

ALSO READ: Local NPO celebrates achievements at annual graduation ceremony

“We’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges they face, especially with paying municipal rates for the home. This ongoing support reflects our commitment to giving back to the community through sports and development,” Chitibwi added.

“We believe children in homes often lack structured outlets beyond school, which can lead to social ills.

“By giving them access to sports, we aim to offer discipline, structure, self-development and character-building opportunities,” he continued.

The initiative generated funds to help Tawana with municipal rate debts and promote participation in sports and recreational workshops.

Chitibwi introduced a tennis drill based on footwork, famously championed by Roger Federer. It measured agility, co-ordination and speed, with children timed as they navigated the course.

One standout performer, a girl from Tawana, completed the drill in 1:04:08, surpassing the club’s local junior best time of 1:05:26.

ALSO READ: Thembisa NPO showered with donations

What impressed the club more was her determination – she had practised many times before her timed run. Her effort and character left a lasting impression on the team.

As a result, she will enrol in the club’s weekly training programme, with structured coaching throughout 2025. This will include participation in sanctioned league tournaments and long-term development toward a potential tennis career.

The raffle competition did not yield much success, with less than 20 entries, and the budget primarily allocated for catering, Chitibwi remains optimistic.

The competition was extended to the next Open Day Charity Drive on June 29.

Chitibwi envisions a long-term partnership with the home, integrating the children into ongoing club activities and sporting codes.

Future collaborations will include regular open days and training workshops, talent development, scholarship programmes and fundraising through sports events, including a charity marathon at the 2025 Nedbank Soweto Marathon.

“Tennis plays a crucial role in providing children structure, goals, character development and a constructive outlet. It gives them something to believe in, work towards, and possibly even a career, either on the court or within the broader sports industry,” Chitibwi said.

ALSO READ: NPO hosts back-to-school drive around Gauteng

The club is actively seeking support from local businesses, government bodies and private donors for infrastructure development, particularly to maintain the club’s courts, which urgently need resurfacing.

The last resurfacing was thanks to individual donors, but this is not sustainable in the long term. The club also seeks funding for the professional upskilling of facilitators into certified coaching programmes.

“We need increased sponsorship and donor support to continue offering tennis to underserved communities and for funding for coaching programmes, infrastructure, transport and tournament fees. Our running team is also preparing for a charity marathon to raise funds for the children’s home.

“Sport is not just about fitness; it’s about discipline, character and purpose. In communities where hope is sometimes scarce, sports become a powerful tool for transformation. By participating or supporting, you are helping shape better futures,” he added.