THE FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust recently boosted Kwata Cricket in Namibia with an amount of N$250 000.
The league which started from a cricket awareness programme in 2009, gets children from underprivileged neighbourhoods involved in cricket.
In a statement availed to Nampa, Revonia Kahivere from the FirstRand Foundation said the programme had been specifically developed for young children.
“We are proudly involved with Kwata Cricket, which encompasses a fast, simplified version of cricket. It includes activities and games, and informing and encouraging participants on making healthy lifestyle choices,” Kahivere was quoted as saying.
The programme was officially launched in 2009 and piloted in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, and has since moved into many different regions in Namibia.
The programme is currently active in six schools in Windhoek, 23 in northern Namibia, three in Nkurenkuru and five in Walvis Bay.
The number of children participating is 8 440.
Peter Forster, the chief executive officer of Cricket Namibia, was also quoted as saying that due to the partnership with the FirstRand Foundation, Kwata Cricket can grow.
“Over the past four months we have been able to deploy development officers into the regions, while 26 teachers and learners completed the FNB Kwata Cricket Course in Walvis Bay. We have also added some new schools and were able to host five FNB Kwata Cricket Fund days, which were attended by 850 learners,” he said.
Forster said they believe in the programme because they have already seen the fruits, particularly with the success stories of Ben Shikongo, who represented the country in 2018 at the u19 New Zealand Cricket World Cup, and Arrasta Diergaardt who is currently playing for the national women’s team. – Nampa
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