URC Grand Final to give 30 Jakaranda Kinderhuis children the memory of a lifetime

The Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final at Loftus Versfeld this Saturday will be a show of unity like never before as 30 children from the Jakaranda Kinderhuis in Pretoria have been selected to hand over the medals to the players from the Vodacom Bulls and Glasgow Warriors after the match.

Charlene Grobler, CEO of the Jakaranda Kinderhuis which gives a future to children placed in their care by the Children’s Court, was overwhelmed when told that 30 of their children had been asked to take centre stage in front of 50 000 fans at the first ever URC final at Loftus Versfeld. They will also be treated to a Vodacom RED Suite Experience on match day where they will watch the game like rugby VIPs and alongside other rugby legends.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity from Vodacom for our children. You know, life is not easy for them and I’m so grateful for something positive to come their way. People underestimate the weak ones in our society, and that’s something our children are not. I feel they deserve this so much and for them to have been chosen for this moment is just such a gift,” she says.

Michelle van Eyden, Head of Sponsorship for Vodacom, says they are equally delighted to be able to host these children at the Grand Final.

“At Vodacom we live out our purpose in our communities. Our communities shape us as a business, so it’s a privilege for us to be able to then give back to our communities. The Jakaranda Kinderhuis is a cornerstone of support in our community and embodies our own vision of going Further Together. They do the vital work of giving these children a future, and it’s an honour for us to be able to add to this by also giving them the memory of a lifetime.”

The fact that these children are Vodacom Bulls supporters will make the moment even more special for them.

“We have 20 homes on site with 12 children in each. For our Christmas Lights Festival one of the homes actually asked to be made blue in support of the Vodacom Bulls. When the Vodacom Bulls are playing, they’ll often get together at one of the houses to watch the matches like a real family. It’s such a treat because that’s when we can spoil the children with a bit of biltong or chips and popcorn. I can’t wait for them to now not just watch their team on TV but actually be there and to be a part of history,” Grobler said.

Grobler says that rugby and sport in general is a lifeline for the children in their care and allows them to create a spirit of community that these children desperately crave.

“As a result of the trauma our children have been through, they often struggle academically. But sport is what pulls them through, and a lot of them play rugby. It’s so important in giving them that team spirit and sense of community – of playing for a team and supporting a team. Sport is a coping mechanism for our children.”

With a history dating back to 1987, the home has always been a proud supporter of the Bulls. One of their children, Ntando Ntuli, grew his passion for rugby and went on to become a referee for the union.

“We always say that none of them chose this life. Plan A is to grow up with your parents, so we try and make it the best Plan B for them. We’ve been blessed with so many children who have gone on to make a wonderful success of their lives and who are living testimonies. We had one boy who was a street child. He came to us with nothing. We taught him how to be a part of a family and how to swim. Can you believe that today he’s a qualified scuba dive master and instructor and runs his own dive school? He also runs a swimming academy in Mamelodi. And his main job in the week is working for an IT company.”

Grobler still remembers the day when one of the home’s children was selected to be a ball boy at a Bulls match and the impact it made on him.

“I went to the match to support him. I’ll never forget the look on his face and what that moment meant for him.”

This Saturday, Grobler will be able to see that same look on the faces of 30 of their children.

“I’m going to cry so much. I’m so happy for these children. We try so hard to give them positive memories and what a memory they’ll be able to make this Saturday.”