Grootbos Youth in Action

Grootbos Foundation news starts at the sports desk this week, where the Cross-Country runners took part in the recent Boland Cross-Country Championships in Paarl. The junior age groups compete for finishing places in order to earn a place in the Boland Regional Team. The senior age groups are required to achieve specific qualifying times to qualify for the team. This photo is of the junior runners from left to right: Elcurvan Appel, Ranwill Appolis, Caleb Absolome, Coach Corrie, Elcurwan Titus, Jauno Daniels, Luke Phillips, PJ Sauls. These runners await to hear whether they have been selected for the team.

Senior cross-country runners from left to right: Juvandre Dryer, Diano Afrika, Anino Fortuin, Ishaan Daniels. These runner also await their results.

Cross-country exuberance!

Grootbos Foundation's sports coaches have been offering games and gross motor skills support at a new Early Childhood Development centre in Blompark, Gansbaai, called Sunshine Nation. This centre is new and is working towards securing more space and more funding; for now, a collaborative approach with support from a variety of volunteers and the Grootbos Coaches is helping to build a full programme for the benefit of these young children. The need for a safe place for children where they can play, learn and reach development milestones in the care of trained adults will give these children the best start in life. The games that the coaches play are specifically developed to help children grow physically, mentally and emotionally.

The canoeing programme is one of the few sports that operates throughout the year with sprint regattas in the summer months, and marathon races in the winter months. The paddlers practice 3x a week throughout the year, and they test their progress in time trials once a month on a Friday evening. This team is out on the river in rain, wind and sunshine. Nothing will keep them from this sport that has given them a team of friends, a life skill of being able to swim, a dedicated group of role models and peer mentors, an opportunity to spend time outdoors in nature on a beautiful river, and plenty of opportunities for adventure. They have learnt how to set goals and to work hard to reach them. This sport has changed the lives of these young people.

When you have that many children in the afternoon classroom and on the sports field too, fresh fruit and egg/ mayo sandwiches provide a nutritious snack. Our sports coaches help with preparing food every day.