New sports programme to spark field of dreams
16/09/2009
More than 2400 school children in Manukau will have better access to regular sport at school, thanks to a new programme being launched by the John Walker ‘Find Your Field of Dreams’ Foundation.
To be launched on 24 September, Primary Sport is a $240,000 initiative to provide sport and recreation opportunities to year 5 and 6 children (aged between 9 and 11).
The new programme will provide opportunities for primary school children to engage in sport during school in addition to after-school sports programmes.
Manukau is a very young city where almost 87,000 children are below the age of 14, says the foundation chairman and Manukau councillor, Sir John Walker.
“Many of these young students live in socio-economically deprived areas. Despite this, Manukau has produced internationally-acclaimed sports-stars like Valerie Vili, Jonah Lomu, Ruben Wiki, Scott Dixon and Barbara Kendall.
“Primary Sport will help to provide the environment that can nurture similar talent. It will offer opportunities to our young people to participate so that they can develop a strong interest and skill in sport.”
Being delivered by Counties Manukau Sport, the programme will be initially launched in nine schools in Papatoetoe and 10 schools in Otara and will be extended to other parts of Manukau later.
Primary Sport will develop an after-school sports programme, assist schools with inter-school competitions, and provide in-school coaching and training.
The project is funded by Perry Foundation ($150,000) and the Southern Trust ($90,000).