Every week, Coolplay gives 2,500 kids in South Africa a safe space to learn, grow, and just be kids through sport.
“Sport is more than just a game,” says Moshibudi Piet, Executive Director at Coolplay. “For thousands of kids in South African townships, it’s a safe space, a classroom, and sometimes the only place they’re seen and heard.”
The reality these children face is stark. “What we found is that children from underprivileged communities experience at least eight traumas a year. That’s 100 traumas by their 16th birthday,” Moshibudi explains. For many, the challenges at home or in their communities can feel overwhelming but Coolplay provides an alternative.
“We’ve been able to navigate those circumstances and teach the children emotional regulation,” he says. “We teach them how to work as a team and how to function with other people so that they thrive in life.”
The lessons run deeper than teamwork or sportsmanship. “Sports taught me that. It taught me to be a better person. It taught me to be resilient and hard-working as well,” Moshibudi reflects.
The impact is built on community. “Our organisation serves 2,500 children weekly, with 36 champion coaches from the communities we serve. Our champions come from the same backgrounds as the children. They speak their language, they know their struggles,” he adds.
Through sport, coaching, and community, Coolplay helps young people find the support and alternatives their environment may not always provide.