SA’s top bowlers to coach 27 children on Youth Day
The Broll Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Broll Property Group; Linden Bowls Club and some of SA’s Proteas Commonwealth Gold Medallists will provide bowls coaching for the Villa of Hope Children’s Home on Youth Day.
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On Youth Day, 16 June 2016, 27 children from the Villa of Hope Children’s Home in Nancefield, south of Johannesburg will be treated to a day of entertainment and bowls training by some of the country’s top bowlers at the Linden Bowls Club in Linden.
The Broll Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Broll Property Group, one of Africa’s leading property services companies and Linden Bowling Club will host children from the Villa of Hope. Some of the Proteas Commonwealth Gold Medallists will coach the children on the day, introducing them to the game of bowls which is expected to provide much entertainment and learning.
“In the four years that the Group has been associated with Villa of Hope, the company is always on the lookout for new opportunities to engage children at the home and introduce them to other aspects of life and various activities, and what better way to do this than sport,” says Elaine Wilson, Divisional Director for Research at Broll Property Group and Broll Foundation spokesperson.
She explains that as a passionate bowler herself, she feels that in some cultures, bowls is not widely promoted as a sport when compared to soccer, rugby or netball hence the partnership between the Linden Bowls Club and Broll Foundation to introduce children from disadvantaged communities to the game of bowls.
Wilson says bowls is a sport played globally across different cultural backgrounds and living in a rainbow nation such as South Africa, this would have significant value as Youth Day commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising in the country.
To this end, Linden Bowls Club has organised transport (sponsored by Casa do Sol School) and will provide meals, coaching, a jumping castle and a whole lot more entertainment for the children.
“I was introduced to bowls four years ago during a fun day and never looked back, and I hope the children will embrace this opportunity and hopefully become bowls stars in a few years to come,” says Wilson.
Bowls is a sport that can be played equally well by men and women regardless of strength and physique. There are very few, if any, other sports where husband and wife, grandfather, father and son, a person in a wheelchair, an amputee, visually impaired person, a person of any race, religion or socio-economic background can play with or against each other, explains Marc Haley, Vice President of the Linden Bowls Club.
“It is a sport that affords players the opportunity of achieving district, provincial and national colours, regardless of age, gender or disability. “The Club is putting a strong emphasis on Youth Day and is appealing to the community as well as members to bring along family and friends to try out the game and have fun with the children of the Villa,” says Haley.
Zorina Wentworth of the Villa of Hope says the relationship with Broll Foundation started four years ago, from the start, the Broll Foundation renovated one house which was then renamed Broll House No 19 after the company to accommodate an additional six children on a long-term to permanent basis.
Since then, every December, the Broll Foundation delivers grocery items for all the children and during Easter holidays, children are treated to an Easter Egg Hunt and day filled with the activities. In addition, the company’s employees from time to time, donate good second hand items that could be used in the house.
“Over the last four years, Broll has made us feel part of their family and we have come to know some of the staff members as well as the company as part of our family. We are very thrilled at this opportunity as it shows that they not only care about our environment and needs but also now also exposing our children to other environments and activities,” says Wentworth.
We appreciate the kind gesture of the Linden Bowls Club and Broll for giving 27 of our youth a chance to experience this excursion and make a life-long memory, she says.
“We are honoured that the Linden Bowls club has partnered with Broll for the benefit of our children as they “engender a spirit of sportsmanship, camaraderie and pleasure for all its members, while participating in this great sport of bowls”. “We know that this is just the beginning of a long relationship as our children have never been to a bowls club before,” adds Wentworth.
The event takes place on 16 June from 9am to 2pm at the Linden Bowls Club, Emma Park, Number 1 Third Street, Linden.
