While the 2016 Soweto Marathon again proved to be one of the most special races on the Gauteng athletics calendar, for about 30 unemployed youth it was also an opportunity to put food on the table.
GSC’s volunteer support programme every one of the 25,000 participants walked off with a hard-earned goodie bag – specially packed by locals.
The GSC & Soweto Marathon organisers (SMT) collaborated on a volunteer Programme to pack race day goodie bags. The SMT selected 30 members from Soweto Athletic clubs to work at the race.
Project coordinator Prince Jali said: “We wanted to make sure that we could also help those people from Soweto clubs who are unemployed so that they can earn extra cash of R350 per day.”
“On behalf of the GSC, we would like to thank the volunteers who participated in making the race a success. On behalf of the GSC, we would like to thank the volunteers who participated in making the race a success,” said Jali.
Pamela Tainton from the SMT said it was important that the volunteer programme gave back to the people of Soweto and its athletics clubs.
“The SMT identified that Soweto clubs taking part in a Soweto Marathon is very important to all the Soweto clubs since this race belongs to them,” she said. “The SMT, Gauteng Provincial Government and GSC have their mandate to make the race a success with their assistance in the race packing, goodie bag packing with t-shirts as well.”
The volunteers were given a target number to reach before the race took place and it with 25,000 entries from clubs and individuals they managed to achieve the goal. This project went well and all the participants were happy with their goodie bags, including hi-tech t-shirt from sponsor Nike.
GSC secretary general Yaseen Lombard said the volunteers programme was just one example of what could be achieved when sports stakeholders worked together. “One of our core focusses is to ensure that communities benefit from access to sport. With this initiative we have ensured that the benefits of the race extends beyond the day and that we were able to impact the lives of local residents.”
