Softball South Africa part of Ikhaya Lemidlalo project in Gugulethu, Cape Town

Softball joined the many sport codes benefiting from a sport project in the township of Gugulethu, Cape Town, South Africa. The project, Ikhaya Lemidlalo (Home of Sport), was launched in June 2009. The Principality of Monaco under the auspices of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco launched the "Humanitarian sport for the development of youth in cities" and contracted the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement the programme as part of their "World Alliance of Cities against Poverty". The groundbreaking NY49 Ikhaya Lemidlalo project is a perfect example of how local government, international donors and civil society can work together to benefit a community. Generous community members spent countless hours implementing the project with the financial assistance from the Principality of Monaco and with support from the City of Cape Town, UNDP, Glocal Forum and Megro An encouraging number of youth from the Gugulethu community came forward to receive training and run the daily sport and recreation programmes at the NY49 facility. A large quantity of sports equipment has been purchased and the NY49 facility has received various infrastructural improvements. The programme has allowed for further purchases and additions to the facility. NY49 is currently a hive of activity where children are having fun while learning and playing various sports and where youthful community members are learning a range of skills that will improve their future prospects. HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco paid a personal visit to the facility on 12 June 2010, accompanied by the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, and the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Dan Plato. The South African Softball team was in Cape Town preparing for their trip to Venezuela and conducted clinics during the visit of HSH Prince Albert II. Noore Nacerodien, Vice President of Softball South Africa, manages the project as an employee of the City of Cape Town's Sport and Recreation department. Other sport codes benefiting from the Monaco funding are athletics, netball, cycling, cricket, soccer, rugby, tennis and recreational activities.