Birdhaven teen creates gender-based violence awareness through his tennis passion

Proving that age is no barrier to impact, Birdhaven resident and Hilton College learner Duncan van Niekerk (16) aims to raise R10 000 by the end of his five-day tennis tournament, from July 8 to 13, to raise awareness and fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in his community.

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Duncan chose to raise funds for Angels Care due to being moved by the NPO’s work in survivors of GBV. The KwaZulu-Natal midlands based NPO provides children and their caregivers with access to every form of assistance they would require in the event of their being victims of any form of GBV, including rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, or mental trauma.

The tennis player explained that a matriculant learner, who lost both his niece and his aunt in the same week to GBV, was the motivation behind the fundraising. “It shocked me to think that women and children, who should feel safe in their homes and communities, often don’t. It made me realise how real and close this issue is. It’s not something distant, it’s happening to people we know.”

Over the course of the tournament, Duncan will wear a GBV awareness ribbon and Angels Care logo, while using his matches as a platform to speak out against violence. He began playing tennis in Grade 5 and chose the particular sport to raise awareness because he was passionate about it. “Tennis gives me a voice and a platform to show others that even doing something you love can make a difference.”
Interested individuals can help him reach his goal by contributing towards the campaign at Sportforlives.org.

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