THE Love Trust is a South African not-for-profit organisation that has been steadily making strides in local community upliftment for over a decade. Founded in 2009, their Nokupha School campus in Thembisa goes beyond the call of duty to ensure their students can access resources beyond those usually available to minority groups.
With a strong commitment to holistic education that hopes to impact the local community, one only needs to look at the sporting superstars this school has been instrumental in creating. Their newly launched on-site sports grounds emphasise their dedication to their learner’s well-being.
In the past two years, the school has embraced new challenges by exposing its students to two sports not commonly played in rural townships around South Africa: Tennis and Swimming.
Tennis: A game of precision and confidence
Anyone who’s ever watched ‘King Richard’ which tells the story of tennis sibling superstars, Venus and Serena Williams, knows that tennis is a game of great skill that requires even greater discipline. The mental strength required to remain focused and present on the court lends itself to a great life skill that can be used off-court.
Felicity Rugwaro (54) is an experienced Primary School teacher who has been instrumental in running the Nokuphila tennis programme since its inception in 2022.
Their tennis programme kicked off with their Foundation Phase (Grades 1 to 3) learners and has expanded to include sessions for Intermediate Phase learners (Grades 4 to 7).
Through generous donations, the school supplies tennis rackets and balls, and the lessons take place on their on-campus court. Nokuphila’s approach to their tennis coaching programme has been meticulously planned by holding focused training sessions to make their staff comfortable with the skills they need to effectively coach tennis.
“Our primary focus has been on developing foundational tennis skills before participating in competitions. By concentrating on skill development, we ensure that our learners build a strong foundation, which is crucial for their long-term success and enjoyment.” – Felicity Rugwaro
This focus on skill mastery aligns perfectly with their educational philosophy where the emphasis lies on thorough, step-by-step learning processes tailored to the needs and development of each student.
Swimming: Building confidence through a lifesaving skill
Mmakwena Malete (28) is a s Sports Officer who is qualified and armed with both a B-Tech in Bio kinetics and a B-Tech in Sports Science. Having been in her current position as a Sports Officer for the City of Johannesburg, she was referred to Nokuphila by a learner’s parent. After attending the Nokuphila Sports Day in 2023, they decided to embark on a joint venture to empower the learners with access to swimming lessons.
Malete is making use of the city’s ‘Learn to Swim’ programme and gives lessons to the students twice monthly at the Rabie Ridge Community Pool. Working alongside the Nional Sea Rescue Institute’s qualified lifeguards who always facilitate the lessons.
“The main goal is to teach these kids how to be safe around water and to avoid the risk of drowning. Once they are capable, they can take part in swimming as a sport and we hope to fill the many lifeguard vacancies available as most of our community members cannot swim and are afraid of water. This partnership goes further than water safety but can later provide jobs in our community.”- Mmakwena Malete
While this programme is still in its infancy, Malete says that there is hope that the Nokuphila staff members will also learn to swim. Ultimately, this new partnership hopes to help eradicate the widespread fear of water by empowering community members with this critical life skill.
