From 23rd – 26th June 2010 Active Communities Network staff were a key partner in an international summit supporting the launch of a progression and leadership programme for young people in South Africa.
Laureus South Africa Summit
Monday, July 19th, 2010
Largest gathering of Laureus Sport for Good funded projects to be staged in South Africa
- Representatives from 22 Laureus funded projects from three continents will attend a four day ’sport for good summit’ in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 23 – 26
- Attendees will have the chance to share knowledge and good practice in how to use sport as a tool for social change
- Young people from Laureus funded projects in South Africa will take part in a multi sports day on Friday June 25, showcasing how sport is being used as a social and educational tool in their communities
Photo from left to right: Laureus Friends and Ambassadors – Lucas Radebe (Trustee), Desiree Ellis, Cynthia Tshaka and Deshun Deysel.
Johannesburg, June 23, 2010 – Representatives from 22 Laureus funded projects from three continents will attend the first ever Laureus Sport for Good Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The summit is considered the widest gathering of the Laureus Sport for Good global network.
The Summit will provide an opportunity for projects from around the world to share knowledge and experience in how to use sport as a tool for social change and to explore good practice in how to integrate ‘leadership development’ into sporting programmes. The event commenced with a presentation on ‘leadership’ delivered by Craig Nossel from Laureus South Africa Foundation’s in-country patron (Discovery) on the morning of Wednesday June 23, followed by the launch of South Africa Foundations ‘Lifeskills Manual’ in partnership with Discovery. The four day itinerary will feature a rich mix of activities including: presentations and interactive workshops on ‘leadership through sport’, consultations on how to strengthen the global network of Laureus funded projects, and sporting sessions that showcase how projects from different continents use sport as a social and educational tool. Media will be invited to attend a mutli-sports event with young people from Laureus funded projects in South Africa on Friday June 25 at the Huntersfield Stadium, Katlehong, Jo’burg from 11.30am to 1pm, that will provide an opportunity to meet project representatives from around the world, Laureus Foundation staff, and the young people who are benefiting from the work being rolled out.
Representatives from 12 Laureus South Africa Foundation projects and ten Laureus Global Foundation projects will be present at the summit. Global project visitors are MYSA (Kenya), Moving the Goal Posts (Kenya), Spirit of Soccer (Cambodia), Magic Bus (India), Coaching for Hope (Mali), Kick 4 Life (Lesotho), Perez Centre for Peace (Israel), Grassroots Soccer (South Africa), Fight for Peace (Brazil and UK), Active Communities Network (UK).
The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA is composed of twelve programmes nationally: Buffalo City Soccer, Fight With Insight, Free The Youth, Future Champs, Indigo Youth Movement, Little Champs, Lungisani Indlela, Johannesburg Cubs, Makomba Ndlela Youth Movement, PeacePlayers International, Soweto Schools Rugby Programme and Sport for All.
Morné du Plessis, Chairman of Laureus South Africa, said: “The Laureus Sport for Good Summit gives us the chance to meet and discuss a range of leadership issues in sport today, as well as focusing on how best we can expand the whole Laureus concept for the good of sport in South Africa and around the world. What better way to showcase our Summit while Africa is at its most unique and vibrant.”
Barry Swartzberg, Group Executive Director at Discovery, “Discovery is extremely proud to be associated with the Laureus Sport for Good Leadership Summit. In South Africa we have seen how sport has shown its ability to transcend race or age and make positive social change. We are confident that this summit will further empower Laureus Foundation projects with the tools to make a greater impact in underprivileged communities across the continent.”
Laureus is a universal movement that celebrates the power of sport to bring people together as a force for good. Laureus is composed of three core elements – the Laureus World Sports Academy, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Laureus World Sports Awards – which collectively celebrate sporting excellence and harness the power of sport to promote social change.
The Foundations’ address social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives. Since its inception the Foundation in South Africa has raised R 25,000,000 for projects which have helped improve the lives of over 50,000 young people. Discovery is the Country Patron of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in South Africa.
