CGU is a soccer club with a difference. It’s located in Heideveld, a community situated on the flats of Cape Town, South Africa. High unemployment and high rates of school drop outs, have lead to high levels of gang activity. When young people drop out of school they often end up in a social void. This void is quickly filled by gangs and drugs.
Mario VanNiekerk and Charles Young started the soccer club as a way to compete for the hearts and futures of kids in Mario's community. As an ex-gang member, Mario understands how things can go wrong for young people. His vision is to give the youth in his community a chance to hope and dream for a better future. The club has grown from 18 to 180 players in only five years. No child is turned away from playing soccer, even if they are unable to pay the field fees. The soccer program has led to other community initiatives sponsored by GCU – a breakfast feeding scheme provides 3000 servings of porridge weekly to local schools, a waste management grant provides youth employment and this last summer, Canadian volunteers provided after-school tutoring. Soccer is the springboard through which a variety of community needs are being addressed.
The money raised from this project will provide track uniforms to the GCU soccer club members as well as support adult basic education training for the community. The track suits are meant to serve as a strong social motivator for club members – they will act as a point of pride and belonging, not unlike a gang uniform. If GCU can secure first-year funding for an adult education teacher, the Department of Education will provide funds in the ensuing years. The basic adult education training will meet the needs of the youth/adults in the community who want to to secure employment.