The power of change
As a coach of LEAD I appreciated that all my girls in the program were respectful. At the end of the program I know I have taught the girls the basic morals of ‘please’ , ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’. So, as we all know, not all the girls are the same. One girl at Belebogeng, P.S. Kotlwano, when I started working with the grade sevens, was extremely negative. She did not get along with other girls. She was one of the popular girls, meaning that what she does mattered to other girls with a low self-esteem. One afternoon I came with a ball, so we played ‘Silent Ball’. I gave her the duty to be the ref and to protect the bee game. I made her be the bee in the circle.
The girl that almost gave up soccer for a baby
I joined the Goal program because I saw a lot of girls playing sports. I especially like to play soccer but because I am in High School, the boys always used to bully me and my friends when we wanted to play soccer during break time. At first it was only them calling us names and telling us that we don’t belong here and that girls are not allowed to play soccer at school because they have to go home clean the houses and help their mothers. We were 5 friends that played soccer and one day a group of boys came to us and took our ball away – they stole it.
Savings saved my life
I am a 15-year-old student and have always received pocket money from my parents. Sometimes I would get R5 a week, sometimes I would get R50 a day and sometimes nothing at all. I always used to get upset when my parents did not give me money because it made me feel poor in front of my friends. There is a feeding scheme at my school, which means the food is free. We get breakfast and lunch, but I don’t like to eat from there because then I look poor. So, I would use my pocket money to buy food and sweets for me and my friends. I would spend all my money on one day and when I wanted to buy other things like clothes or toiletries, my parents would say that is why they gave me pocket money.
Overcoming Obstacles through Sport
My name is Tshegofatso Kodisang, I am 13 years old and live in a township called Lenasia on the West Rand of Johannesburg. I live with my mother, grandmother, uncle and two cousins in a 2-bedroom house. I am very shy and don’t have a lot of friends but I have two best friends. I am at my happiest when I am with my friends and family. My mother is my role model because she works hard, loves me and cares for everyone around her even though we have very little.
I dont need violence to stand up for MYSELF!
My name is Keamogetswe Chipu, I am 10 years old and attend school at Tshimollo Primary School. I live with my granny and 5 other siblings in a rural part of Mamelodi called Naledi. The government house has 4 bedrooms, but I share a room and bed with my granny and sister.
I changed my influence to POSITIVE
My name is Tshimologo Ralethe but everybody calls me Tshimo. I am 12 years old and live in township called Mamelodi. We rent a back room where I live with my mother and baby brother. My parents got divorced when I was born and then my father passed away when I was 9 years old.
Altus Sport Changed Me
Altus Sport changed the situation I was in. I was a bully and overly aggressive towards my family and friends. I was very ugly towards them. I called then names, pushed them out of my way and sometimes even stole their pocket money. Altus Sport changed me to not do those things anymore. I do not know why I did it, but I now know that I was wrong. I have asked everyone for forgiveness, and I told them that I am sorry.
Realization of a bully…
My name is Khaya Dlamini, I am 12 years old and attend New Generation Combined Primary School in a rural village on the outskirts of Lenasia. I live with my parents and 2 siblings in a 1-bedroom shack that we share.
My principal, Mr Kumbi told me that I must join the Altus Sport programme. I asked him why and he said that “he sees me get bullied everyday” and maybe by joining this programme I can learn to stand up for myself. He wasn’t wrong!! I was bullied almost everyday of my life since I can remember, not because of how I look or how small I am but because where we live and how poor we are. Children especially doesn’t understand how hard it is growing up when you have almost nothing. Very little food, not a lot of clothes and sharing a bed with my parents and siblings. It isn’t easy but we as a family have everything we will ever need. We have love in our home, and we live peacefully together. That is all we need. That is why I couldn’t understand why I was bullied.