DLJ South Africa - Smutsville Township

Danielle met Susan Soloman, a church leader and Sunday School Teacher for the Smutsville township during December 2009 - discussing the possibility of coming along to play games with the township children during her annual holiday in South Africa.

In December 2011 however she decided to take this a bit further - seeing that the children there had no equipment and very little to play with, let alone play organised sport, she decided to try to raise funds to purchase sports equipment for them to use - placing it in the care of Susan so that she can store it safely and ensure that all of the kids can benefit from it.

Danielle then started a 'Smarties for Smutsville' project running within her DLJ Sports Coaching sessions - this involved children coming along to DLJ Sports Coaching's gymnastic and cheerleading sessions at their schools, taking home a tube of Smarties purchased for them by Danielle, then returning the tube a few weeks later with as much loose change as they could collect inside, with a prize of a personalised leotard/t-shirt offered to the person who returned the most change.

THE RESULTS............................................................................................

Danielle raised over £300 (or 4000 South African Rand) for the children of Smutsville township, and spent it all on Sports Equipment purchased which she felt would benefit the children most.

Danielle brought this equipment to the township children during a recent holiday to South Africa in December 2011, and this event was covered by the local paper, the 'Sedgfield Edge' (http://www.edgecommunitynews.com/flip/current/current.html - Page 24 - Article entitled 'A Gift From Afar').

Danielle plans to continue to help the township, establishing a charity within the coming year - if you would like to hear more about Danielle's work or to make a donation to DLJ South Africa please

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED!
UPDATE:

DLJ Sports Coaching are looking to register a charity name to raise money for Smutsville. A JustGiving Page will soon be set up so that people can donate - please look out for this and tell your friends all about Danielle's work!