Power-Child Campus opens in Mfuleni

The project, under the patronage of international actress Veronica Ferres, will among other things provide a temporary safe haven and shelter for sexually abused children as well as a point of education to prevent abuse and empower children and families to stand against it.

The Power-Child Campus includes a safe house providing shelter for children and offering medical services as well as soccer pitches supporting the physical and social training of the children. In addition, a stream of audiovisual educational material will empower adults with the knowledge to stand up and say 'NO' to violence and sexual abuse against their defenceless children.

The land was allocated by the City of Cape Town who gave Power-Child the green light to go ahead with the association's first international project in September 2007. The formation of the Power-Child Campus was only possible with the generous funding and support of BASF. With the support of local and international celebrities and sporting personalities, the campus officially launches on 13 November 2008 through a series of fundraising and charity initiatives, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz.

In the run up to 2010, soccer serves as a sign of new hope and is a motivation towards a better future. On the Power-Child Campus soccer pitches, educators are given a platform to encourage teamwork and give the boys and girls the confidence, through tactical skills development, to avoid potentially dangerous situations. Soccer creates a sense of community and common passion, while reducing pent-up aggressions and frustrations through physical activity.

"Soccer brings people together in a unique way, by being able to reach people far beyond their athletic prowess," said Martin J. Krug, founder and chairman of Power-Child, “ Power-Child's idea is to offer the people in Cape Town's townships, through soccer and public viewing, an opportunity for education, enlightenment and protection from abuse and violence.”