Springbok team celebrates Youth Day with Mamelodi youngsters
The Springboks prepared food for the youth and played games with them in celebration of Youth Day
The South African National Rugby team visited Thandanani Drop-Inn Centre in Mamelodi on Wednesday, June 15, where they prepared and served food to young children in celebration of Youth day.
Founded and chaired by Thabo Kgotsi, Thandanani Drop-Inn Centre is a non-profit organisation that addresses issues that affect the youth of Pretoria such as drugs and substance abuse as well as homelessness.
Speaking to Rekord, Thandanani Drop-Inn Centre spokesperson, Kate Kekana, said they were delighted when they received the news that Food Forward SA will be bringing the Springboks to the centre to spend the day with the youngsters.
Kekana said the children at the centre range between four and 16 years old.
On arrival at the centre, the Springboks were in aprons and helped offload the food and also chopped the vegetables before dishing up for the youngsters.
According to Springboks assistant coach Deon Davids, the visit was aimed at giving back to the community by inspiring the youth and helping young people believe that they can achieve their dreams.
Davids said the visit was important because young people are leaders of tomorrow and need to be motivated to continue contributing excellence to the country.
In a speech, the 26-year-old Springbok prop, Ox Nche, motivated the youngsters to continue working hard to achieve their dreams and to be the best version of themselves.
Nche told the youth that the most important aspect for a young person to remember is to “always believe in yourself”.
“It was a sign for us that we actually inspire a lot more people than our family and friends, but also the youth of South Africa that they can actually be the best in the world.
“We celebrate this day because of the sacrifices the youth made long ago for us, and the message which is true to us is that you have to sacrifice something to achieve your dreams and you can reach them if you believe.”
Kekana added that some of the children at the centre aspire to be rugby players and meeting their role models was a dream come true.
She said the centre hosted annual campaigns on Youth Day to educate the youth of Mamelodi about Gender-Based Violence as well as drug and substance abuse.
“The campaign usually starts with a walk and then later on we play indigenous games with the children.
“We assist with rehabilitation and we have an after-care facility where we keep the children safe and off the streets,” she said.
Kekana added that the centre will continue to help the youth and keep them off the streets.
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