​This Women’s Month, the Dabulamanzi Ladies and NCS Resins have gone out of their way to give a helping hand to the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club (SCARC) by donating sports bras, personal toiletries and four paddling kits.

Nomthandazo Nduli, the Administration Manager for SCARC, said the club was humbled and thrilled by the gesture.

The SCARC is part of the sport development project that was launched in partnership with the City of Johannesburg’s Sport and Recreation. The club has been adopted by the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club in Emmerentia.

Steve Jourdan, the Chairman of SCARC, said the long-term relationship has been fruitful and key to unearthing talent.

“Over the past 18 years, SCARC has taught over 1 000 youth from the Elias Motsoaledi informal settlement in Soweto how to swim at Power Park Swimming Pool. In 2019, the SCARC Learning Centre was opened at the Power Park Recreation Centre by the City of Joburg Sport and Recreation,” he added.

The City’s Director for Sport and Recreation, Siyanda Mnukwa, acknowledged the special bond the City of Johannesburg has established with sport development clubs. He added that during the swimming season, the Power Park Swimming Pool is used for swimming lessons and is a feeder to the canoeing club.

The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Margaret Arnolds, said the contribution that Dabulamanzi Canoe Club is making in reaching out to young people, especially girls, in Soweto is priceless.

“The recent donations of sports bras, personal toiletries and four paddling kits to young women will go a long way towards boosting their confidence and creating a lot for all things sporting. We need to create a healthy City by encouraging youth people to take up different sporting codes that are available at City-run facilities,” said MMC Arnolds.

She said the City of Joburg was grateful for the partners who in their plans and executions, transform the delivery of sport programmes by ensuring equitable access, development and excellence.