Updates from Laureus Youth Empowerment through Sport Programme (YES) 2013

It is that time of the year again where the young African leaders get together again to learn from each other, to be equipped with the world class skills that will not only let them be the greatest leaders but also be better people in terms of behavior attitude and other elements and attributes that contribute to building a successful leader.

LAUREUS YES LEADERS 2013

The Laureus YES programme has definitely grown from last year’s pilot programme where there were only eleven of us and 10 graduated, this year we have gone bigger and better; we have 34 first year participants and five second year participants. This should give you an Idea of how amazing and crazy it is to be spending ten days in the bush with 39 smart, intelligent, hungry for success, hungry to lean, leaders that truly believe in the quote of Mr.Nelson Mandela that says “Sport has a power to change the world”.

As much as this ten days is going to be fun for the leaders because of the great team building activities that are provided by the Spirit of Adventure, there is also a lot of work that needs to be done by our service providers Exercise Training Academy (ETA), Sport Science Institute of South Africa (SISSA), Childrens Radio Foundation (CRF), Youth Zones and many other guests that come to visit us, spend time, sure their experiences and giving us better way to deal with our psychological issues in assuring that when we go back we are in a better state not only in terms of knowledge but also psychological.

A lot has happened in the four days already, the training with ETA is complete, we did an obstacle course that was fun and hard work and not easy but we all completed it some of us with tears, we had night activities with Spirit of Adventure, rafting in the Dam, Had our bond fire session that was focusing on the issues that affect youth of our age group, HIV/AIDS and Sex then we break to our smaller groups what are led by the second year leaders where we really zoom in and look into everyone.

We will keep you updated…Watch this space!

 

Thank you Laureus for a life changing experience!!!YES we did it!!!

Oh WOW what a day! I am still pinching myself hoping someone will wake me up and tell me that it was all a dream, that everything that happened on this special day was all just in my mind and did not happen! We celebrated Laureus South Africa 10 years anniversary and the  Laureus Youth Empowerment through Sport (YES) Leaders graduation, celebrating our hard work, our great life changing experiences, our achievements.  Most of us it was our first time ever being really acknowledged for the great work that we do in our communities or even really achieving anything,  let alone receiving certificate and being honored by the greatest sports men and women this country has ever seen, spending a day with them, having them tell you that they appreciate you and the great work that you do and that you are the reason they do what they do, you are the reason they support and believe in the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Some of the YES Leaders celebrating victory

As it was Laureus 10 years Celebration in South Africa and our graduation I had expected an extravagant event with a lot of amazing people from around South Africa, maybe few Laureus ambassadors, Laureus Trustees and Academy members not aware that I was going to be in the same room as the greatest South African sports heroes who were unbelievable humble. From Laureus South Africa Chairman and rugby legend Morne du Plessis, to the most inspiring, courageous and one of world greatest modern adventure explorer Mike Horn who has travelled around the equator solo, crossed the deadly amazon river solo,  completed the circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle solo, the first of two men to travel without dog or motorised transport to the North Pole, a man who has dedicates his life to youth education and environmental conservation, to the 2012 Paralympic bronze medallist swimmer Achmat Hussien, the amazing super humble and most successful Paralympian and 2012 silver medallist with tans of gold’s from previous years swimmer Natalie du Toit, to the South African Olympic bronze medallist rower Bridgette Bartley, to 2007 rugby world champions and still Springboks players Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger, to our new Ambassador the  2011 IRB Seven’s player of the year, South African sevens player of the year, HSBC Seven’s World top try scorer, Springboks seven’s Cecil Africa, to South African soccer legend Lucus Radebe, to one of the greatest South African cricketer Shaun Pollock, to South Africans greatest legend boxer Baby Jake Matlala, to the 2012 Paralympic in the women’s F13 long jump gold medallist Ilse Haye, to South African trail runner Ryan Sandes who is clearly one of the top endurance athletes in the world, who have won four of the increasable Deserts to date only 81 individuals have completed all four the trails, to Christ Bertish worlds big wave rider and many, many more other amazing individuals who share one goal of using sport as a tool to make change in South Africa.

Top L to right Achmat Hassiem, Lucas Radebe, Mike Horn, Schalk Burger, Natalie du Toit and (Bottom L to R) Morne du Plessis, Ryan Sandes and new Ambassador Cecil Afrika

Like Mr. Nelson Mandela said at the opening of the Laureus Sports Awards in Monaco in the year 2000 that “ Sport has the power to change the world”, it has definitely changed my world and a lot of other young people in South Africa and around the world, it has given me life, it gave me hope when I had had lost it, it gave me friends, it gave me family after death took away my parents, it put food on my table, it clothed me, it gave me a Diploma in Sport Management, it gave me and a lot of other young people who cannot speak out a voice, it gave me love, it gave me the passion I have today to be the sport for change agent, sport is my smile, my happiness…my everything!!! Sport for good has given me opportunities that were only a dream to me, things I thought they were never possible for me, dreams I had that kept me going and now I am proud to say YES I am leaving that dream, Like Mike Horn says that “if your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough”, I let my dreams scare me and guess what I am leaving them. Laureus has changed the sport industry in every way, it has given meaning to the game and through Sport for Good the world is a better place, we don’t just play but we change lives with our FIRST love!!!

I would like to thank Laureus for giving the go ahead to Mthoko with the YES programme you have given us more than what we expected, I have never even thought I could find myself in Barcelona seating in a Summit, sharing ideas and learning from the greatest sport for good organizations from around the world anytime soon but you made it all happen in no time, you gave us hope, you made us realize that with love for sport, education and passion to always strive to make a change, we can. You have given us a very solid support structure and damn it feels good!!! I would also like to thank all the Laureus Sport for Good global and local partners, the greatest sport man and woman from around the world who believe in us, youth, that we have what it takes to make a change and mostly all the Non Profits and Charities that are doing good work out there, Thank you thank you thank you!!!

Much Love World!

 

 

 

 

 

Nasiphi to Spain, Barcelona for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Annual Summit

OMG WOW the FINAL day has come, now its a matter of hours till I hit SPAIN,BARCELONA… here I come baibei, you better be ready for this beauty…Thank you Laureus for the opportunity, promise to best represent MYSELF,Laureus YES,SOUTH AFRICA, PPI GLOBAL and mostly the people that mean the world to me FAMILY and FRIENDS!!!I am grateful each day and I count my blessings each day!Who new!

 

My identity defines my Womanhood!

My identity defines my Womanhood!.

 

My identity defines my Womanhood!

I am who I am because of my identity, my beliefs, my self-values, my personality, my hard work, my love for sport, my love for family, my positivity towards life, my smile, my enthusiasm and most of all my strive to develop the youth in every way I can.

I was born on the 13^th of June 1988 in the Eastern Cape, Mount Ayliff at Cabazana Village where I was raise by my grandparents Ntsikelelo and Nontsikelelo. I never spent much time with my mother, Zingisa, when I was growing up because she was working away from home. My grandparents taught me the most valuable lessons of life. They taught me to love myself, trust myself, work hard, work smart, to be an opportunist, to look for new challenges, to always strive for education and success, and to never settle for second best because I am the best. I grew up in a rural area and there was not much to do but play sports. Me being as hyperactive as I am, I played every sport I could get my hands to. I played netball, volleyball, handball, soccer, cricket, softball, long jump and discuss. I wasn’t “the best” in all these sports but I know I was very good in netball and volleyball. In 2006 I was introduced to a new challenge- basketball. I only really started playing in 2008 when I was in tertiary at Durban University of Technology.

In 2004 I permanently moved to Durban to stay with my mother. It was the first time we would be living together full time, you can all imagine the excitement and expectations I had thinking that finally I would have everything I had always wanted. I had so much anticipation to study in the city and also live with my mom for the first time. Did everything go as I have imagined? NO. In fact, everything was the opposite. I was a spoiled teenager who was used to getting anything and everything I wanted when I wanted it from my grandparents. I thought things would be the same or better with my mom- forgetting that she was a single parent, the eldest in the family with mega responsibilities. We had our differences, and at first I did not care what she had to say because I had my grandmother who was a phone call away.  In December 2004  my grandmother passed away,

Nasiphi with siblings Nqobile and Yongama on my graduation day!

and that’s when I knew I had to change my attitude and behaviour towards my mom because now she was all I had. This occurrence is what makes me believe that everything happens for a reason. If my grandmother did not pass away I doubt I would have ever given my mother a chance. In 2006 our relationship got better, we were best friends spent as much time as we could together and we got to know and understand each other. My mother was the one who instil the value of womanhood in me. She taught me life’s most valuable lessons, how to carry myself as a young woman, how to celebrate and embrace who I am and celebrate little achievements. She taught me how to be a role model to my siblings Yongama and Nqobile,

how to love myself and the importance of always having a clear mind set of what I want to achieve in life. Because of her, I learned the importance of following my dreams and never letting anything stand in my way no matter what the circumstances. What I did not know was what little time I had left with her, and that she was teaching me all of these life values for the last time. I took care of my mother until she passed away on the 04^th of December 2006.

I used to say that if anything would happen to her, life wouldn’t be worth living. But when they announced that she was gone I realised that at the age of 18 I had to be the woman my mother wanted me to be. I had to be strong and be a good role model to my siblings. Since my mother died it has not been easy.  We were lucky to have the help of amazing extended family and friends that took us in and supported us.

My peace Players Family!!!

I have also been blessed with incredible colleagues, especially from Peace Players International (PPI). The people at PPI have thought me the great value of family. Family is not only the people you are born with but also the amazing people you meet in life who are always there for you. This year there have been two new additions to my family tree; Sports United and Laureus Youth Empowerment through Sport programme (YES). These 2 programs have been very influential in my life in terms of self and professional growth, and giving me guidance toachieve my goals.

My womanhood is defined by my experiences, and the way I was raised has had a big influence on how I turned out. I believe that if I was raised under a different environment I would be a much different person than I am today. My mother had me when she was 19 years old, the best gift and a blessing she ever had. I told her that I would wait until I am old enough to have a baby. I made that choice for me because I learned from her experiences. Growing up I was told to always follow my dreams, to live my life to the fullest and to be the best that I can be. This is the message I pass to my friends and everyone around me because you only have one life to live, one life to see everything you’ve always wanted and you. You should always take all the once in a life time opportunities because you will never know if that opportunity will ever come your way again.

I am still growing, discovering myself, empowering and developing youth- especially young woman in sport. I chose to be the writer of my own future and letting God be my guidance.

I am woman!!!

My question to you is: What defines you or your womanhood???

 

My involvement at Carrington Primary and Nelson Mandela Day Basketball Clinic

I have been Involved with PeacePlayers International- South Africa ( PPI-SA) for five years now. I started in 2006 as a participant for our Leadership Development Program (LDP) for the City Area, then coached in 2008 for the City Area. In 2010I was promoted to be an Area Coordinator. The first school I coached was Durban Primary

Nasiphi’s coaching session at carrington

school, a middle class school just a few blocks away from Carrington Primary. In the second semester of 2009,  I was transferred to Carrington Primary to coach. I still remember my first day at the school. I went home after practice and cried, I could not believe the level of poverty in the school. The kids were so used to their circumstances that to them it was part of life, yet they were still filled with an incredible amount of energy every practice. PPI-SA was the only good thing those kids had. I was their smile, their hope, their happiness and that’s what motivated me to be more dedicated to the school, I could see the positive impact I had to the children and the teachers.

Last year a representative named Nishi from Discovery Health called PPI wanting to do something to help our organization for Discovery’s Community Service Initiative (CSI). Former PPI-SA fellow Claire Perry, who I was working with at the time, suggested that we ask them to help out Carrington Primary. Since then Discovery has done so much work at the school. Last year I took grade R through grade Two for a visit at Discovery’s office where the kids got food, books, and other goodies. Discovery has renovated classrooms, toilets, our basketball court, and done other projects to help improve the school. Nishi’s involvement at the school has been tremendous, she just keeps on fund-raising and working hard to make those kids lives better.

This past week, PPI-SA celebrated Nelson Mandela Day in true PPI fashion, using basketball as a vehicle to create friendships and drive social change. As we all know that Mandela Day was officially adopted by the United Nations as “Nelson Mandela International Day” in 2009. The UN decided that there could be nothing more fitting than celebrating Mr. Mandela’s birthday, July 18, with a day dedicated to his life’s work. The Mandela Day campaign message is simple: Mr. Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for human rights, so in honor of this commitment, people around the world are asked to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to serve their local community. Mandela Day is a call to action for individuals. We are inspired by Mr. Mandela to take responsibility for ourselves and to understand our responsibility to others.

For Mandela Day, PPI-SA teamed up with Discovery Health and Virgin Active Health Club and hosted a “Sports Day” for 500 students at Carrington Primary school, a PPI-SA partner school in our PSP p

Mtu and Debby explaining drills

rogram. The event was a day of fun physical activities for the students, promoting health, wellness, and friendly competition. The day started off with a basketball clinic during which PPI-SA’s office staff, including MD Marcel van der Heever and new OPS manager Debby van der Heever, coached and ran basketball drills and relay races. The students also fed off of the ever-present energy and enthusiasm of Mtu Zulu, Kristin Degou, Andile Msomi, Mandla Sibulawa, Thobani Khumalo and I . Mtu lead a “foot-fire” drill to get the kids going, while Thobani kept the energy high by inspiring dancing and chanting among participants and spectators as they supported one another. New fellow Kyler McClaryalso got into the action, running several drills and games in which he awarded points to the teams that cheered the loudest for their teammates.

“The enthusiasm of the kids is what really made this day special,” Kyler remarked. “The energy-level was incredibly high from beginning to end and was a clear sign of the fun and enjoyment being had by players and coaches alike.”After the basketball clinic, Virgin Active Health Club put on a Zumba Class for the entire school, and Discovery Health had volunteers that provided all students with lunch.

The teachers in the school were all so excited about the day, and they were very grateful for all the work I have put in to help the school. If it wasn’t for the opportunity given to me by PPI-SA and the great relationship I have built with Discovery, the Mandela day would not have been possible. From my experiences with PeacePlayers I have learned to always do my best in everything I do, to always have fun and to reach out and help in any was

Wrap up after Mandela Day basketball clinic

I can. It’s amazing how much small gestures can accomplish if it’s done with love. All I ever wanted was to coach those kids in basketball and life skills- but I ended being a sister, a motivator, and most of all a role model in the school.

I would like to thank Discovery Health, Virgin Active, and Carrington Primary for a wonderful opportunity to serve our local community in Mandela’s honor.