South African Rugby Legends Association: Iqhawe Programme

Iqhawe - translated "Hero" or "Champion" in Xhoza- is a project run by the South African Rugby Legends Association to raise the bar on rugby development throughout South Africa.

The South African Rugby Legends Association has coached 35,000 children from all backgrounds in the last five years. The original module of running one-off programmes in which a training session was held - without any context - had no real impact on them or their game. The South African Rugby Legends decided that they wanted to do more for the young aspiring players.

The Iqhawe project was born: It started off with 4,500 children in each province taking part in their respective provincial unions. The Province then hosts a talent identification tournament where they will have various age groups playing against each other. The tournament then sorts out the top players that have talent and potential to perhaps go to the next level.

The top 40 players in each region in the senior age group is what the South African Rugby Legends are interested in. These young men are at the cross roads in their lives and they have the ability to make a difference as they come from across the country.

"It is great to teach and coach youngsters about the skills of rugby and make them better players, but it is fantastic to make them better people and champions who can go back into their communities and influence their peers (who look up to them) and make them all better people. These individuals are going to be the Iqhawe or champions of the future," says SARLA CEO Johan Allan.

The Iqhawe programme is an eight month social development programme, fitting in with the educational commitments. Courses include: An Aids awareness programme called "No Apologies" that helps builds and strengthens the character which is crucial to development. Abstinence is encouraged to build a young person's self esteem, responsibility, leadership qualities and relationship abilities. Through this they should walk away with good judgement, courage and self control. The topic of sexuality is also discussed where the five developmental areas of the human being of intellectual, emotional, social, physical and ethical are all clarified and understood. Again, abstinence is brought into this lecture thereby positively influencing the AIDS crisis that faces us in the 21st century.

Drugs awareness is also raised. The programme of "How to Drug Proof the Youth" is part of the Iqhawe programme. Basic challenges such as drugs in their communities and the key factors leading up to drug and alcohol misuse are addressed. Becoming aware and understanding drugs and drugs misuse are taught. Issues of peer pressure and their response to that help the children stand up for their beliefs and values.

"Life on the Edge" helps the youth handle life and being a teenager today. Traits of excellence are mapped out before them which will be the target of the Iqhawe programme. A quality producer, a creative and critical thinker, an independent and cooperative learner, an effective communicator, a time and information manager, and a self assessor all are examples that one should strive towards.

"Character Life Skills" moulds them into better people and opens their eyes as to what they want to achieve in life, what is well suited to their character. Teaching them what is right and what is wrong through life's principles, giving each person the tools to go out there and make a better life for themselves.

This is followed up by a bonding of the team through the "Spirit of Adventure" which is a specially crafted course that challenges each member; it has been founded by Andy Telfer who has a very hands-on approach. Their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual abilities of each individual are continually tested with the aim of developing the personal and inter-personal skills amongst individuals and groups. "Spirit of Adventure" uses a combination of mental and physical exercises including adventurous outdoor activities on land, rock and water. Lectures, discussions and reviews are also a part of this programme.

The South African Government has endorsed the programme through the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and has piloted several projects in KZN Schools based on the Iqhawe programme.

The South African Rugby Legends Association will be using various organisations who are equipped to deal with the champions and offer them all of the Iqhawe courses. Focus on Family is an organisation that has been running since 1992 and founded by Danie Van Der Heever has an outreach programme with which the Iqhawe programme has been associated.

eLan Rugby Legends will be used at every available opportunity to help with the Iqhawe programme. These heroes have made a commitment to make a difference in other people's lives. Working hand in hand with the course lectures, the eLan Rugby Legends are striving to make an impact on the youth of today to make them tomorrow's heroes. More importantly, the Iqhawe graduates are encouraged to go back into their communities and become role models and leaders which their peers will be able to mould themselves off - these Iqhawe will be SARLA's ambassadors.

The South African Rugby Legends Association have a number of projects that are up and running, including the Iqhawe programme that is a vigorous social development programme that trains the youth to be upstanding members of our country.