The Central Gauteng Lions are delighted to announce their partnership with Safe-Hub: The first cricket union to join forces with the innovative youth and community development platform in South Africa.
Starting today, the two parties have begun a strategic provincial partnership under the global Safe-Hub Campaign, one of the largest and most impactful youth development campaigns ever implemented in South Africa.
Central Gauteng Lions will join Safe-Hub in reaching thousands of young people each year through sport-based youth development programming at Safe-Hubs so says Central Gauteng Lions CEO Jono Leaf-Wright;
“Our sport and youth activities, including talent and grassroots development programmes, are perfectly aligned and complimentary to the community and youth outcomes that the Safe-Hubs reach and achieve. Through this partnership, Central Gauteng Lions will implement our cricket development infrastructure and programmes at Safe-Hub sites, thus expanding resources and opportunities for our current beneficiaries. At the same time, we’ll create additional cricket access points for Safe-Hub communities, thus growing the game and making it more accessible.”
The partnership will activate cricket infrastructure and programming at the following Safe-Hub locations: Jabulani (Soweto), Diepsloot and Alexandra – the last of which will be the first to open due September or October 2021.
Florian Zech, Joint-Managing Director Safe-Hub says that this partnership offers an incredible opportunity: “This partnership will help us to diversify Safe-Hub’s sport offering and make a strategic move from football-exclusive programming. We know that we will create a significant impact together and look forward to the journey ahead.”
Additional Safe-Hub information:
The globally award-winning Safe-Hub Model has been designed to disrupt the intergenerational cycles of poverty, unemployment and inequality that trap young people growing up in disadvantaged communities.
A Safe-Hub is an innovative platform that provides a physically and emotionally safe space where young people access services, opportunities and support through sports, arts and culture-based programmes that focuses on personal development, health, safety, education, accredited training and employability. Through healthy, strong relationships with well-trained role models, coaches and facilitators, young people are encouraged to explore their independence and individuality, build a core set of values, and strengthen their ability to deal with the challenges they face in everyday life. As a platform for youth development, a Safe-Hub is a campus for local NGOs, government and service providers to offer holistic support for young people, their families and community.