South African women's national team player Lindie Erasmus helps a future softballer during the activities in Gugulethu. (Photo courtesy of Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town)

SOFTBALL PART OF PROJECT IN SOUTH AFRICA
2010-06-18

The Principality of Monaco under the auspices of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco launched the “Humanitarian sport for the development of youth in cities” and contracted the United Nations Development Programme to implement the programme as part of their “World Alliance of Cities against Poverty.”

The groundbreaking NY49 Ikhaya Lemidlalo (Home of Sport) project is a perfect example of how local government, international donors, and civil society can work together to benefit a community. Generous community members spent countless hours implementing the project with financial assistance from the Principality of Monaco and with support from the City of Cape Town, UNDP, Glocal Forum and Megro.

An encouraging number of youth from the Gugulethu community came forward to receive training and run the daily sport and recreation programmes at the NY49 facility. A large quantity of sports equipment has been purchased and the NY49 facility has received various infrastructural improvements. The programme has allowed for further purchases and additions to the facility.

NY49 is currently a hive of activity where children are having fun while learning and playing various sports and where youthful community members are learning a range of skills that will improve their future prospects.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco paid a personal visit to the facility this past weekend, accompanied by the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, and the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Dan Plato.

South Africa’s women’s national softball team was in Cape Town preparing for their trip to Venezuela for the world championship and conducted clinics (shown above and below) during the visit of HSH Prince Albert II.

Softball South Africa Vice President Noore Nacerodien manages the project as an employee of the City of Cape Town’s Sport and Recreation department.

Cape Town is the site of next year’s International Softball Federation IX Jr. Women’s World Championship (19-and-under).

Softball is also involved with Generations for Peace and an announcement is forthcoming about a similar relationship that the ISF is about to enter into.

Thanks to Softball South Africa for contributing this report

Elmarie Kannemeyer of South Africa's women's national softball team works with a young participant in the sporting project.
(Photo courtesy of Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town)