News
2010-08-19
Growing dreams in the Upington township of Paballelo has been one of the most rewarding projects we’ve undertaken. That’s because this dream has inspired contributions from individuals across South Africa and from many parts of the world, including Sweden, Spain, the United States and the UK.
Morne and Keturah de Klerk are photographers from Australia, who spent three months travelling 8 000kms through the poorest villages and townships of South Africa, capturing images and stories for what became a much-acclaimed book called Africa’s Beautiful Game.
While the World Cup showcased the richest players on earth, Keturah and Morne’s journey brought them close to the hope and joy the beautiful game brings to people living in deep poverty. And part of their trip took them to the townships of Upington, a visit of special significance to Morne who grew up in the Northern Cape.
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2010-08-12
One of the many things we love about Dreamfields is the way in which individuals and small groups of people can join hands and grow dreams. The project has benefited hugely from the generosity of South African corporations – starting of course with our founding partners BHP Billiton and Old Mutual. But we’ve been inspired by the way ordinary South Africans have also decided to make a difference through the beautiful game.
As the World Cup drew closer, we had a run of great initiatives, coming from big-hearted school children, alumni from small-town schools, foreign football fans coming out for 2010 and birthday boys and girls:
• Sello Moloantoa, a businessman from Centurion, bought a DreamBag for Phuzamanzi Primary, his old school in Standerton. Sello believes he owes much of his success to his first school: “This is where I learned more about perseverance, dedication and hard work. There were learners walking long distances, leaving home at 5am and getting back from school at 7pm, barefoot and hungry.” Sello also donated a laptop with software, an overhead projector and whiteboards for all the classrooms. Sello runs his own electrical company which he has called Phuzamanzi - named after his school. “I believe that we all have a responsibility of ploughing back to our own communities, especially the disadvantaged. However small a contribution, the kids will appreciate it, and some lives have been changed.”
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2010-08-06
In Mogale City, out to the west of Johannesburg, a soccer project is taking shape which could map out the road that Dreamfields tries to follow over the next three years – wide-spread participation at school level, regular weekly league football and an opportunity for the best players to get specialised coaching and high-level competition.
It began at the start of 2010 when gaming and leisure company Silverstar brought Dreamfields on board to help create soccer leagues for primary and secondary schools in the townships of Kagiso, Swanieville and Munsieville. It was a perfect place to work because Department of Basic Education officials had already done great work in those townships getting school sports organised.
The Silverstar Soccer Stars programme was launched at a DreamEvent in Swanieville on March 20, with 10 secondary schools and 22 primaries stepping onto the fields at the Lusaka Sports Complex in brand new kit, and then playing their hearts out for the medals and trophies on display. Except for two trophies – the biggest of the lot.
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