On Saturday, 25 August 2018, Grace Mapfumo, a netball coach from CoolPlay, received the After School Sport Coaching Excellence Award at the annual Provincial Sport Awards hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS). This is the second year that sport coaches working in the after school sector have been honoured by DCAS and the After School Game Changer for their efforts to ensure extended sporting education for learners in the Western Cape.
Grace began as a volunteer at Kleinberg Primary School in Ocean View before she was employed by CoolPlay. She now works at two primary schools and one high school in Ocean View – coaching approximately 100 girls from these three schools. Two of the players coached by Grace have represented the Western Cape for netball at their age level. In Grace’s nomination form, she was applauded for “maintaining a devoted squad of learners each week despite the constant disruptions in the community due to gang violence.”
The CoolPlay curriculum that Grace follows is based on eight social and emotional competencies: goals, values, team spirit, character, communication, responsible decision-making, maintaining composure and positive thinking. Scott Sloan, Operations Manager at CoolPlay, reflected that “through delivering the CoolPlay programme, Grace has allowed the girls to grow in their empathy, self-awareness, better self-confidence and have allowed them to start to plan for their future.”
Grace too has seen how her life skills training has impacted her learner’s behaviour, allowing girls from different backgrounds to play together as a team. “My real aim for the girls is to see them smiling and preparing for their futures,” she said.
Receiving a special commendation on the evening, alongside a standing ovation, Inga Sbulele Mfundisi, is a grade 10 learner who volunteers as a chess coach at Lukhanyo Primary School in Zwelihle, Hermanus. She has been coaching at the school since 2015. Over this time, Inga has built a group of 30 dedicated learners who have achieved national and provincial awards for their chess skills. As a school learner volunteering her time each week, Inga is an example of a passionate, caring and responsible youth leader.
The other shortlisted nominees celebrated on the evening were: Elmarie Carolison, a MOD Coach in Touwsriver; Raymond Thembinkosi Pienaar, a soccer coach from Project Playground in Langa; and Ricardo Pritchard, a soccer coach from NorSA in Wellington.
For more information please contact Bridget Hannah at afterschool@westerncape.gov.za or on 021 483 9844.