Traditional games put youth on right path

As concerns grow over substance abuse, crime and a lack of recreational opportunities for young people, organisers of the Pefferville HUB Festival are using sport and indigenous games to provide positive alternatives for local youth. The programme featured a variety of sporting codes and indigenous games, including touch rugby, soccer, skipping rope (kgatiorugqaphu),upuca,drie stokkiesand breakdancing. Pefferville HUB co-ordinator Veronica “Minky” Constable said the festival was helping to introduce traditional games to children who may never have experienced them.

“We have hosted two festivals so far and kids are excited to play these games that were played back in the day. “We want to have a straight mentality ofifuture yabo[their future].” Constable said participants also had an opportunity to showcase their talents and potentially represent the district at provincial level. Organisers believe the programme plays an important role in steering young people away from social challenges affecting many communities.

John Bisseker Secondary School netball coach Bridgett Jack, 25, said her own life experiences inspired her commitment to youth development. “I’ve recently come out of prison and learnt things the hard way,” Jack said. “Now I see life outside and I don’t want these kids to follow the same route as I did.