The Netball program is designed to give the girls that participate an equal amount of educational support and athletic activity. The program operates Monday through Thursday for two hours after school, alternating between scholastic and athletic activity. On Mondays and Wednesdays, students stay at the High School, receive a meal, and participate in tutoring classes led by Sbusiso Msimango and Xolani Ngubane. The classes are designed to address gaps in the learners' schooling and prepare them for the crucial Matric exams, which are held at the end of High School.
On Tuesdays and Thurdays, the girls walk down to the netball field to exercise and compete. Netball is a popular game, similar to basketball, usually played by girls in South Africa. The 21 students in the Netball Program are divided into 3 teams of seven, and take turns playing one another. The game differs from basketball in many ways, most noticeably in that there is no dribbling of the ball. At the close of each program session, Nosipho Sithole, the program director, sits the class down to talk about issues that impact the lives of the young girls, such as HIV/AIDS or teen pregnancy.
|