In the heart of Mitchells Plain, a passionate sports fanatic is making a difference in the lives of young people.
Shaquil Bergstedt (51), is the founder of a volleyball club that is not only keeping kids occupied with fun activities but is also teaching them important life skills that will serve them well in the future.
Bergstedt launched the club in August last year after noticing the desperate need to keep young people off the streets and away from a life of crime.
‘Kids as young as 10 years old were standing on street corners smoking cigarettes and “other stuff”,’ he explained to News24.
In an area that is all too familiar with drugs, gangsterism, street fights and abuse, Bergstedt decided to use his love for volleyball as a way to bring about change in the community.
The club already has over 60 youngsters aged between 10 and 20, and for Bergstedt, teaching them the skills to play the game is an ‘indescribable passion’ that he enjoys.
But the club is not just about playing volleyball. Bergstedt and his co-coach Reagan Boks teach the youngsters life skills such as leadership, teamwork and discipline.
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Friendships are being made between children who would generally, under normal circumstances, not have interacted.
The club practises every Friday on the playground at Hyacinth Primary School, but the lack of facilities is a challenge for Bergstedt.
Most weekends are spent playing indoor or outdoor volleyball tournaments, and the older group is already playing in official tournaments.
However, the younger kids are not yet eligible to participate in official games, so they play in friendly matches for now.
Teaching the youngsters to control their emotions when they lose a tournament match was quite a challenge, according to Bergstedt, as they try to teach the kids that it is okay to fail sometimes.
‘This is part of where our life skills lessons come in. The young ones put their soul into these tournaments, and there are days when we don’t win, which sometimes makes them very angry and emotional.’
The club also practises beach volleyball at Camps Bay, which is an exhilarating experience for many of the kids who have never set foot on a beach.
However, funding is a significant challenge for the club. Travelling to tournament venues, getting the right clothing gear and providing food and drinks for the day all cost money, which they don’t have.
The club has been forced to do fundraisers to gain some funds to cover the next tournament.
Despite these challenges, Bergstedt is determined to keep the club going. He recalls moments when the team wanted to call it quits due to funding problems, but the kids’ enthusiasm and commitment to practising inspired him to keep going.
Currently, the teams are preparing for upcoming tournaments, where they will participate in the Cape Town Volleyball Federations League for the next eight months.
The initiative has brought joy to Bergstedt’s life, as well as to the youngsters. By creating a safe and nurturing environment for young people to learn, play and grow, Bergstedt is making a real difference in his community.
His hope is that the club will continue to grow and inspire other young people to make positive choices in their lives.
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Picture: Unsplash