The Neemdeel project, which collects sports equipment for needy schools, was born out of Ratel Rugby and Living Ball’s passion for both sports and children.
Living Ball is an organization that does Christian ministry through sport, and Ratel Rugby is a platform where different schools come together to share news, victories and information on the sports field. It is a place where members can keep up to date with sporting events and players’ achievements, as well as other news in the rugby community.
Deon de Kock and Nico Luus are the masterminds behind Ratel Rugby. They both have full-time jobs, and Ratel Rugby is their passion. Deon tells how he and Franna Cillie from Living Ball decided to start the Neemdeel project.
“One day Franna and I were sitting and talking about one of Living Ball’s outreaches, when the idea came to me to collect used sports equipment and donate it to schools in need,” explains Deon.
“Living Ball already has the network of needy schools and can thus distribute the equipment. Ratel Rugby is then responsible for collecting the equipment, and thus the Neemdeel project was born.”
Deon says the Neemdeel project was received with incredible enthusiasm by schools. Crates, sponsored by Greenhouse Tech, were dropped off at schools, and these schools filled the crates with sports equipment.
“The project kicked off at the beginning of September last year, and within a month one of Living Ball’s single storage ports was almost full.”
The Ratel Rugby men have airtime on the TV show Toks and Chops got, and Deon told Nico to mention the Neemdeel project. Nico was given the last five minutes of the program to say something, and from there the Neemdeel project received a donation of 500 sweatshirts.
“The five minutes went by so quickly, I didn’t think anyone heard it. Then we received a call about the 500 sweat suits. It’s someone who prints clothes for schools, but the printing on the sweat suits was printed crookedly, so the school didn’t want it. We have worked out that this donation is worth R250 000.”
Deon goes on to say that there were schools that approached him and Nico about the possibility of getting rugby boots for their players.
“There are many players at schools who train barefoot. I remember an o. 14-player who no. needed 13 boots, and someone bought them for him.”
Deon and Nico have big plans for the Neemdeel project. “The first step is to collect and distribute equipment, and that is already happening. The second step is to get coaches willing to donate their time to coach at needy schools. The third step is to sponsor players who are selected for provincial tours, but cannot afford it, even if only partially.”
Deon explains that these three steps fit together. “You need equipment to play the sport, but without a good coach your equipment is worthless. Then, when the opportunity arises, we want to help players experience tours to grow even further.”
The Neemdeel project collects sports equipment for both primary and high schools. For more information about the Neemdeel project, contact Deon de Kock on 082 854 0779, Nico Luus on 082 565 9358 or Franna Cillie on 082 776 8132.
Please also visit the Neemdeel project’s Facebook page.
