With the successful delivery of 200 soccer balls to underprivileged schools in Bloemfontein earlier in March this year, SuperSport’s Let’s Play decided to extend the project by contributing a further 500 balls for underprivileged schools in Bloemfontein. The idea is to assist these schools to get their sporting programs on track. This amazing project, which begun in 2006, is a corporate social responsibility initiative developed by SuperSport and partners in a bid to encourage children to become physically active. Says Vaughn Bishop, head of the SuperSport Let’s Play program: “Our children are becoming alarmingly inactive and are faced with many negative influences on a daily basis due to a lack of social engagement and opportunities for play. I believe that sport can make a significant difference in lifestyle and behaviour change and provide both hope and purpose to the children of South Africa’. Schools that benefitted from this initiative in July and August were: Koot Niemann, Wilgehof Primary, Calculus Intermediate, Tsholofelo Intermediate, Atang, Tswellang Special School, Pholoho Special School, Batho Primary School and Our children-and-youthcare centre. Schools that received Let’s Play ball donations in March this year were Heide Primary School, Credence Primary School, Olympia Primary School, Tjchabelang Primary School, Waterbron Combined School, Bainsvlei Combined School as well as Beudene Daycare Centre. “The Let’s Play soccer balls were met with excitement from both learners and teachers. For kids especially, playing a sport can be a positive experience – it gets them active, social and teaches lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, goal-setting and competition. The Let’s Play balls signify hope and excitement, said Lynne Landman.
