Mass Participation Programme
The Mass Participation Programme (MPP) does exactly what it says on the tin – it enables lots of disadvantaged children in the community to participate in sport!
The MPP is aimed at developing life skills by introducing sport to a large number of children from disadvantaged communities. The programme uses structured coaching as the foundation to provide a holistic education that is otherwise not provided by the schools. The programme is currently operating in 25 different primary schools in the townships and northern areas of the Nelson Mandela Bay, positively reaching out to some 20,000 children annually.
We are always looking for hardworking, enthusiastic volunteers to help coach and organise sports activities on The Mass Participation Programme. Although volunteer sports coaches require a good grounding in the sport they want to coach, you do not need be a qualified or vastly experienced coach. To find out how to volunteer with United Through Sport in South Africa, click on the link below.
The MPP uses mainstream sports like Football (Soccer), Rugby, Cricket, Netball, Hockey, Basketball, Swimming and others as a way of connecting with disadvantaged and vulnerable youth. Although the programme uses sport as a tool, its main objective to develop the ‘child within’, focusing on improving self image and self esteem and using the positive effects of sport to teach essential life skills such as leadership, team work, fair-play, conflict resolution, self respect, self evaluation and decision making.
We try to use sport to make a positive difference to each young person we meet. By focusing their goals, dreams and outlook on life, sport can be used to develop individual skills such as building leadership, coping with pressure, making decisions, dealing with feedback, self-criticism, responsibility, conformity, persistence, risk taking, courage, self motivation and self-control. Sport really can be used to empower young people and empower them to choose their own life path and become better members of society.
''On the sports field everyone is equal and through successful team play and partnership anyone can make a difference''
Qondakele Sompondo, Chairman of The Umzingisi Foundation.
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