15/06/2026
Hope, Sport and Community Unite as Eldorado Park’s Young Champions Prepare for Kenya
As excitement builds for the upcoming trip to Kenya, where South Africa’s top youth flag football players will compete on an international stage, a heartwarming act of community support reminded everyone that success is never achieved alone.
On Monday, 15 June 2026, Johannesburg Community Corrections, in collaboration with the non-profit organisation FOCUS, handed over much-needed female hygiene care packages to the young athletes of Project Pick Six. The donation forms part of a broader effort to ensure that every player travels with dignity, confidence and the support they need to represent their country.
Johannesburg Community Corrections was warmly welcomed by the Eldorado Park community, where collective efforts continue to positively redirect the mindsets and actions of young people through constructive programmes, mentorship and opportunities for personal growth.
The initiative received support from a number of community leaders and organisations committed to youth development, including Cheryl Pillay of the Come Back Mission NPO and Councillor Margaret Arnolds, Speaker in the City of Johannesburg whose presence underscored the importance of investing in young people and supporting positive community-driven programmes.
The handover comes on the heels of an extraordinary season for Project Pick Six, whose teams dominated the 2026 Youth American Flag Football League (YAFFL), securing championship titles in all three age divisions.
For many of these young athletes, the opportunity to travel to Kenya next month represents far more than participation in a sporting tournament. It is a chance to broaden their horizons, showcase their talent on an international stage and inspire other young people from Eldorado Park to pursue their dreams despite difficult circumstances.
Speaking during the handover, Steve Dwarika of FOCUS stressed the importance of collaboration among organisations and stakeholders throughout the South of Johannesburg.
“We need more partnerships and stronger connections between organisations if we are serious about creating lasting change. When stakeholders work together, we can extend our reach and make a greater impact in communities such as Eldorado Park,” he said.
He added that initiatives such as Project Pick Six demonstrate what is possible when communities rally around their youth and provide opportunities that encourage growth, leadership and positive life choices.
Eldorado Park has faced significant social challenges for decades. The community continues to battle the effects of drug trafficking, child abuse, child-headed households and cross-gang violence. Young people are often vulnerable to recruitment by street gangs, a cycle that frequently contributes to school dropout rates and limits opportunities for personal development.
Against this backdrop, programmes such as Project Pick Six have become vital community lifelines. By providing structured sporting opportunities, mentorship and positive role models, they offer young people an alternative path, one built on discipline, teamwork and ambition.
The success of the programme on the field is a testament to what can be achieved when communities invest in their youth. More importantly, it demonstrates the transformative power of sport as a tool for social development and social cohesion.
As the young champions prepare to wear South African colours in Kenya, they carry with them not only the hopes of their families and coaches but also the aspirations of an entire community determined to rewrite its story.
The support shown by Johannesburg Community Corrections, FOCUS, Come Back Mission NPO, community leaders and public representatives demonstrates the power of collective action in addressing the challenges facing vulnerable communities.
Their contribution serves as a reminder that meaningful change happens when government, civil society and local stakeholders unite behind a common purpose.
For the players of Project Pick Six, the message is clear: they are not travelling to Kenya alone. They carry the support, pride and belief of Eldorado Park with them.
As the programme’s motto proudly states:
“A child in sport is a child out of court.”
