Avril Fillies
Local NGO training4changeS and Dorothea Special School have teamed-up to empower children through healing-centred sport.
Their aim is to safeguard and empower children with special needs and to build a healthier more inclusive community.
Cloetesville resident and training4changeS coach Lorenzo Claassen delivers weekly futsal sessions at the school.
“Before my current role at training4changeS, I worked at Dorothea school, so some of the children already know me.
“It is nice to be back, to see the smiles on the children’s faces and the excitement when I arrive. I saw a need at the school; there are not a lot of people coming in to help so I just want to be there and use my experience to help in the sport capacity.”
His fun-filled sessions help children build cognitive, sensory, motor and emotional skills. Being on the pitch together also helps the children develop their social skills.
“The perception exists that learners on the autism spectrum do not socialise easily across the board, but with this initiative of training4changS those boundaries are demolished,” said Mike Mouries, departmental head at Dorothea Special School. “Now children are making friends with one another and getting new opportunities; they are all part of the big futsal family.
“The difference we are making through futsal is important. The main thing we do is help to break barriers. We also want to raise awareness to encourage other people to get involved helping at special needs schools.”
This exciting collaboration is supported by Liga Paulista de Futsal from Sao Paulo in Brazil, which also runs its own futsal initiatives for young people with special needs.
“Training4changeS is a great positive example,” said Paulista coordinator Daniel Graça.
“We love its work. Helping children with special needs through futsal is very important for us.”
Training4changeS is an internationally acclaimed NGO based in Stellenbosch that provides a unique blend of high-level soccer coaching, quality education and mentorship to empower young changemakers.
It is the first African NGO to earn accreditation in Education Outside the Classroom and has twice been ranked the top African NGO using sport for peace and social justice. training4changeS runs a boys’ soccer academy and school teams for girls as well as providing coaching for learners of Dorothea Special School.
• Visit www.training4changes.org or the organisation’s social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to find out more about it and its work.
You must be logged in to post a comment.