The Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) sent four volunteers to Germany, as part of an exchange sport programme, leaving the East London Airport on Sunday, 29 October.
Sinazo Mdaka, Phatheka Links, Qhama Dyakala and Sikelela Kakele are volunteers who were selected according to their performance at their respective sport federations. All 25 years of age, from the district of Amathole, Sarah Baartman, Joe Gqabi and Bafalo City respectively.
Andile Nduna, communications officer at DSRAC said “The main purpose for sending off these volunteers is to expose them to Sport Development trends. The four will spend the next nine months in Germany, from 1 November 2017 to 31 July 2018, working in clubs and schools.
Phatheka AKA – Tsiki-tsiki, who was part of the Eastern Cape Provincial Women’s Football team that played against German Women’s Football team in 2013 is excited and nervous at the same time to go and work in Germany, “It is my first time to be out of the country and I’m thrilled to have this opportunity though feeling anxious to meet and work with people from a different culture, but I’m willing to learn anything that will complement my sport career development.
The provincial Government of the Eastern Cape and the Government of the German Federal State of Lower Saxony on 20 October 2015 signed a Joint Declaration of Intent in Bhisho to foster socio-economic development, foreign investment, and cooperation in areas of technology, sport, HIV/AIDS and tourism in their respective Provinces.
This partnership is largely focusing on the International Voluntary Service sports exchange programmes between the Landessportbund Niedersachsen and the DSRAC, where football teams, coaches and team officials exchange different techniques and opinions on how to improve competing with each other.
