EMPOWERING YOUTH THROUGH RUGBY
11/15/2024 02:52 AM
We believe that rugby can be a powerful agent for change. This sport isn't just for the thrill of the game; it's also a source of inspiration that can help create and shape dreams for the future. This is what forms the basis of our Sharks Pups initiative.
Launched in November 2022, The Sharks Pups Initiative is a free-to-participate Durban-based community rugby development program which teaches children between the ages of 6-13 years basic rugby skills, and inspires them to dream big dreams and aspire towards a brighter future.
By empowering Durban’s youth through rugby, the Sharks Pups initiative aims to cultivate a generation of resilient, disciplined, and community-minded individuals who will not only excel in the sport but also become leaders and role models within their communities. We hope and believe that Sharks Pups can contribute towards a future where rugby serves as a catalyst for positive social change, breaking down barriers and uniting communities across Durban.
Thanks to the generous support of Mr Craig Naicker and his Ignite Dreams NPO, we've launched seven Sharks Pups fraternities in and around the greater Durban area, including Phoenix, Inanda, Sydenham, Wentworth, Durban Central / North, Umlazi and Groutville, with more to be launched in time. All together, these fraternities support over 450 children, who receive high quality rugby coaching at least once a week.
The initiative also seeks to empower and upskill committed volunteers from each community with basic rugby coaching and/or first-aid qualifications, enabling them to feel a sense of ownership towards their respective fraternities. These opportunities, as well as the possibility of securing scholarships to well-respected rugby-playing high schools, helps ensure that the initiative has a meaningful and lasting impact in each community where it has a presence.
The Sharks Pups organisers are deeply grateful to the URC, and visiting teams like the RFC Dragons, Edinburgh, and Benetton, who have supported this initiative by providing coaching sessions at the different fraternities and giving them the exciting opportunity to run on the field as player mascots during the URC-themed kids rounds.
We're also appreciative of Food Lovers Market, who help nourish our participants with delicious meals and refreshments. Their support helps make this initiative even more of a meaningful success. If you'd like to join the Sharks Pups, you can sign up now at: https://forms.gle/VeWuV4iyhRZBPAjR9
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