RetourIRONMEN INSIDE AND OUT

By Alessandra Esterhuyse

The ACVV Khayalethu Youth Centre in North End in Port Elizabeth will soon add even more achievements to its already impressive list of accomplishments.

Ashwell George (19) and Sithembele Wana (18) have been selected by the Ironman 4 the Kidz charity to participate in the 2010 Spec-Savers Ironman SA. Wana will take on the challenge of the full Ironman in Port Elizabeth, whilst George will participate in both the Spec-Savers Ironman and Ironman 70.3 SA.

These former street children have been taken in by the Khayalethu family who take great pride in providing opportunities to better the lives of the young street dwellers they encounter.

The ACVV Khayalethu Youth Centre has been in existence since 1996 and provides a home for about 35 former street boys. Their main aim is to send the boys to school. However, if this is not possible, they involve the boys in apprenticeships in the local community where these individuals gain invaluable experience.

For Dr Marietjie van der Merwe, head of the centre, it is extremely important that the boys are exposed to as many things as possible. “We want to show the boys what’s out there so that they can dream. We want to provide them with the opportunities and tools that will allow them to fulfill those dreams and be successful”.

Khayalethu certainly does this. Opportunities such as playing soccer, practicing karate and participating in community service are amongst their weekly activities.

Every second Sunday, the entire Khayalethu family (from big to small) participate in the 5km Ocean Race. Many of the boys have also participated in the Herald Cycle Tour. At the moment their community service entails working at an old-age home in Zwide.

Due to Khayalethu being one of the beneficiaries of the Ironman 4 the Kidz charity, contact between the two organizations led to George and another Khayalethu member’s participation in the MTN Corporate Triathlon Challenge earlier this year. They finished in 19^th position out of 120 teams. After that, Khayalethu was approached for participation in the full Ironman event itself.

George and Wana, who attend the Ethambeni Enrichment Centre and both have black belts in karate, have been at Khayalethu for 11 and 9 years respectively and are well into their training. They follow a schedule that has been provided by Triangle Sports and have been given cycling, running and swimming gear with which to motivate them and better their performance. They also receive swimming lessons and have each been given a gym membership. “The training is hard, but you gain from it” says Wana.

For these two athletes the Ironman experience is a knock that can hopefully lead to many doors opening. “I think that this experience can lead to many opportunities and help me succeed in my dreams” says Wana who wants to become and electrical engineer or hotel owner.

“It is great to be a part of something this big” says an excited George who looks forward to the experience and vibe of the event. Like Wana, George also has big dreams for the future. “I want to be a business man working in project management or human resource management”, he says.

On asking the boys how their friends reacted when hearing of their participation in Ironman, George and Wana replied that some were shocked and surprised, yet excited and eager, wanting to be part of it as well. Every year Khayalethu is involved in the Ironman event in some form or another. This usually entails having the small boys participate in the Pritt Ironkids race or using the older boys or staff as volunteers.

“We are extremely proud of the boys for what they have achieved” says an enthusiastic Van der Merwe.

The sky certainly seems to be the limit for these eager athletes. May they be an inspiration to their peers and everyone who hears of their success story.