A sport science and research centre in Mitchell’s Plain is the dream of Kurt Smith, welterweight bodybuilding champion from Woodlands, to help the youth to make better choices than drugs and gangsterism.
He is contemplating to create an organisation that is self-sustainable through NGO funding that can promote sport and recreation in Mitchell’s Plain.
“I want to start a project that can shape the minds of the future community leaders for positivity. This initiative will be provided to offer a safe haven for youth to become athletes instead of gangsters or drug addicts. There are a lot of talented young members in the community and they are often not promoted. With this initiative we are giving the youth an opportunity for greatness through sport,” he says.
Smith wants to establish a sport and science facility that is able to cater to the needs of all athletes. Not only through physical training and development, but also emotional and psychological coaching.
“The facility must also be able to provide a community-based project through research that can understand addiction and how we can help through sports to combat the drug problem in Mitchell’s Plain. Students who are studying in social sciences and sport sciences will have the opportunity to have their fieldwork hours employed at the facility which is something to provide back to students living in Mitchell’s Plain,” he says.
Smith says a healthy lifestyle is the most vital part of healthy living habits.
“Excercise promotes not only physical strength but also mental strength through discipline. This has been proven through research to decrease stress and anxiety. It is also considered a healthy habit, which has helped me to make the right choices in life to become the best version of me.
“Physical education is a vital component of development. If schools do not have the infrastructure available, we will help build this through funding projects. This way we can offer a service at schools for sport and recreation research. Through research projects at the schools we can determine on a needs assessment, what appropriate sporting planning and development is needed for specific schools,” Smith says.
Being a bodybuilder he wants to promote bodybuilding and athletics in schools.
“I think it will create a positive learning environment in schools where respect and autonomy for self and others seems to be severely lacking. As soon as our organisation is registered we are contemplating starting the project. If everything goes according to plan we hope to start in March 2023,” he says.
He still needs a facility with office space, sponsors, a place where he can plan the marketing and will need permission from schools to create gymnasiums and track and field.
“The permission from the schools will allow us to coach and counsel youth. We also need office equipment, branding and marketing sponsorship, travelling and accommodation for sporting and social impact events. To do all this we will need government on-board and we will need to create a sport and recreation ward panel in the Mitchell’s Plain area so that we can provide feedback to other members of council.
“Woodlands will be the first area to benefit from our project, simply because of the major drug problem around Woodlands High School.
The field is also perfect to establish a sport and recreation hub – for community research and social development,” he says.
Without the support from family, friends, team members and fans he would not have been able to get to where he is as a bodybuilder.
