SPORTS

Sport was identified as one of the four priority focus areas in Bidvest Protea Coin's approach towards making a sustainable positive difference in the communities and environment within which we operate.

At the core of our efforts are a few long-standing relationships / partnerships in particular Youthzones.

Youthzone have over many years used sport as a tool to create social cohesion and a trusting environment. Sport becomes the foundation from which the rest of the Youthzone programme is built. In support of Youthzones initiatives, Bidvest Protea Coin established Gijima Sport and developed its sporting facilities at the Gijima Facility.

More than just physical infrastructure, Gijima Sport has become the symbolic and aspirational home of our sporting initiatives.

The multi-faceted annual Ziyawa Soccer Championship and Sports day(s) which is held at

Gijima is the culmination and celebration of our sporting initiatives throughout the year, 

Using the experience of and with Youthzones, incremental expansion and improvement of sport initiatives are now taking shape. We are excited about the prospects of a few new relationships that are being formed.

Increasingly, we are realising that sport has the potential to become a core component in improving our integrated security solutions to our clients.

In addition to the recognition that sport is an important enabler of sustainable development, sport programmes have frequently been implemented to prevent crime, delinquency, and violent behaviour. The United Nations through various declarations, commitments and initiatives driven by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), recognise sport as a tool for the prevention of crime and violent extremism. These include the UN General Assembly Resolution 71 / 1 60, Doha Declaration Global Initiative together with the

International Olympic Committee, The Line Up Live Up Programme and much more.

An in-depth study published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology concluded that sports programmes can prevent crime and delinquency. Outcomes of sport programmes include: diversion from crime (disrupts individuals from engaging in crime); enables the building of social bonds that protects against becoming involved in crime (avoidance of damaging positive relationships); social learning ( anticrime attitudes and norms facilitated through role modelling); Positive role models influences prosocial values; sport programmes facilitates prosocial teaching opportunities; decreases aggression; improves conflict resolution; improves self-efficacy; reduces depression; Improves resilience and self-esteem; improves psychological wellbeing; allows for the improvement of life skills; it minimises risk factors and maximises protective factors against involvement in crime and drug abuse; it improves health and social cohesion as well as the individuals ability to resist social pressure to engage in delinquency; connects youth to positive opportunities; enables cross cultural understanding; provides a feeling of purpose; reduces stress and anger; enables improved leadership and communication skills.

Research suggest that complimentary and support activities greatly enhance the effectiveness of sport programmes aimed at reducing and preventing youth participation in crime and delinquency

Taking into account the research, we are shaping sport initiatives with complimentary and support activities such as those included in the under 14 Ziyawa Soccer Tournament and within the existing Youthzone networks.