By Buziwe Nocuze
Pamella Kwepile from Nyanga, Cape Town, started a netball team in 2021 to help keep kids away from trouble.
“I realised that kids have a lot of free time on their hands and they don’t know what to do with it. Most of them use it doing things that cause nothing but trouble,” said Kwepile.
“The netball we introduced is shaping them to become better people who will be able to make better choices. They will know how to differentiate between wrong and right.”
They start their gym sessions at 4.30pm from Monday to Friday and play matches every weekend.
“We are still struggling and would love to get a sponsor because when we are going to play outside our area, we need to pay for transport; we need tracksuits and balls,” said Kwepile.
Some of the challenges that teenagers are facing are pregnancy, alcohol, and drug abuse.
Image Tyalana, a student, is thankful to Kwepile for coming up with an idea to save them.
“Mostly we get bored and don’t know what to do. We end up making wrong decisions. Our parents are playing their part, but when we get to the street and meet other kids, we forget about what they teach us,” said Tyalana.
Kungawo Bini, a 45-year-old parent, said they need more people like Kwepile.
“As parents, we go to work in the morning and come back home late. At least now we know that they are playing netball and will come home and do their homework,” said Bini.
Pictured above: Pamella Kwepile started a netball team to save teenagers after she noticed the free time they have on their hands doing nothing.
Source: Supplied
