Volunteering for Impact – Empowering Young Lives through Sport
At Abraham Kriel Bambanani we focus on the holistic care and development of each beneficiary in our care. That is one of the reasons why we are so excited and grateful for the involvement of three remarkable volunteers: Arlin, Thabo and Deen. These dedicated sportsmen help us with some of the developmental aspects of the boys in the Youthspace satellite home. They put together a boxing programme for the boys earlier this year and it has already had a significant impact on their lives.
The impact of the boxing programme…
“We noticed changes in our boys from day one. The training sessions are a highlight for them – it is an outlet for all their energy, break the daily routine, and provide an opportunity for the boys to bond with each other. More importantly, the boxing activities instilled a sense of discipline, resilience, and confidence, reduced stress, and boosted their overall well-being.” Sheree Coetzee, Social Worker. The Housemother also noticed that there is much less anxiety and angry outbursts in the house.
Our boys can’t get enough of their sessions. *Ken shared the following, “I really enjoy the boxing lessons, they motivate me to stay fit and in shape.” *Ethan’s enthusiastic response: “The boxing lessons teach me to stay committed because even on days when I don’t feel like it, I don’t miss the session”. *Jonathan, “I feel so special and inspired when these guys visit us, thank you Abraham Kriel for bringing these guys to our house.”
Meet the HEROES behind the initiative:
Arlin Vissagie: A former sports and fitness coach now an amateur boxer. Arlin brings a wealth of experience and a passion for mentoring young talent. He believes that physical activity is the world’s best medicine for mental and physical health and that boxing, in particular, is a sport that teaches discipline and will give any student of the sport a great amount of confidence.
Thabo Sishwane: Thabo is a former South African Bantamweight boxing champion and is currently a boxing and fitness trainer who also provides private fitness lessons. Thabo loves helping people achieve their fitness goals and believes that discipline is the key to succeeding. He is also thankful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the youth.
Deen Fredericks: Deen is an amateur Mauy Thai Fighter and fitness and strength-conditioning trainer. He also runs his own fitness business. Deen was surprised by the boys’ respect and endurance. He also mentioned that he probably learned more from the boys than they learned from him.
This initiative is once again proof of the invaluable value of community involvement. A special word of thanks to our donors who contributed towards the necessary sports equipment for these boys. Your donation didn’t just buy a boxing glove, it changed a life.
*Not their real names
Vrywilligerswerk met impak – Boksprogram bemagtig jong seuns
By Abraham Kriel Bambanani fokus ons op die holistiese ontwikkeling van elke kind in ons sorg. Daarom is ons opgewonde dankbaar oor die betrokkenheid van drie merkwaardige vrywilligers: Arlin, Thabo en Deen. Hierdie toegewyde sportmanne help ons met sommige van die ontwikkelings aspekte van die seuns in die Youthspace satelliethuis. Hulle het vroeer vanjaar ‘n boksprogram saamgestel vir die seuns en dit het reeds ‘n beduidende impak op hulle lewens gemaak.
Die impak van die boksprogram…
“Ons het reeds van dag een af veranderinge by ons seuns opgemerk. Die oefensessies is vir hulle ‘n hoogtepunt – dit bied ‘n uitlaatklep vir al hulle energie, dit breek die daaglikse roetine, en bied ‘n geleentheid vir die seuns om met mekaar te bind. Meer belangrik, die boksaktiwiteite het ‘n gevoel van dissipline, veerkragtigheid en selfvertroue ingeboesem, stres verminder en hul algehele welstand ‘n hupstoot gegee.” Sheree Coetzee, Maatskaplike Werker. Die Huismoeder het ook opgemerk dat daar baie minder angs en woede uitbastings in die huis is.
Ons seuns kan nie uitgepraat raak oor hulle sessies nie. *Ken, het die volgende gedeel, “Ek geniet die bokslesse baie, hulle motiveer my om fiks te bly en in vorm te bly.” *Ethan se entoesiastiese reaksie: “Die bokslesse leer my om toegewyd te bly, want selfs op dae wanneer ek nie lus is nie, mis ek nie die sessie nie”. *Jonathan, “Ek voel so spesiaal en geïnspireer as hierdie ouens ons besoek, dankie Abraham Kriel dat julle hierdie ouens na ons huis gebring het.”
Ontmoet die HELDE agter die inisiatief:
Arlin Visagie: ‘n Voormalige sport- en fiksheidsafrigter, nou ‘n amateurbokser. Arlin bring ‘n magdom ervaring en ‘n passie vir die mentorskap van jong talent. Hy glo dat fisieke aktiwiteit die wêreld se beste medisyne vir geestelike en fisiese gesondheid is en dat veral boks ‘n sport is wat dissipline leer en enige student van die sport ‘n groot mate van selfvertroue sal gee.
Thabo Sishwane: Oorspronklik van Oos-Londen, Thabo is ‘n voormalige Suid-Afrikaanse Bantamgewig-bokskampioen, en is tans ‘n boks- en fiksheidsafrigter wat ook privaat fiksheidsklasse aanbied. Thabo hou daarvan om mense te help om hul fiksheidsdoelwitte te bereik en glo dat dissipline die sleutel tot sukses is. Hy is ook dankbaar vir die geleentheid om ‘n verskil in die lewens van die jeug te maak.
Deen Fredericks: Van Johannesburg, Deen is ‘n amateur Mauy Thai Fighter en fiksheids- en kragkondisioneringsafrigter. Hy bedryf ook sy eie fiksheidsonderneming. Deen was verbaas oor die seuns se respek en uithou vermoë. Hy het ook genoem dat hy waarskynlik al meer by die seuns geleer het as wat hulle by hom geleer het.
Hierdie inisiatief is weereens ‘n bewys van die onskatbare waarde van gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid. ‘n Spesiale woord van dank aan ons donateurs wat ‘n bydrae gemaak het vir die nodige sportstoerusting vir hierdie seuns. Jou donasie het nie alleen net ‘n bokshandskoen gekoop nie, dit het ‘n lewe verander.
*Skuilname