The year 2017 is over, so it’s time to draw a conclusion concerning PLAY HANDBALL Supercup Series 2017 & Educational Workshop “Play Fair for a Sustainable Future”. And the conclusion is throughout positive.

“It’s a pleasure to see how the kids are not just involved on the handball field, but also with regard to the stations of the ECO-Trail. The cooperation with our national and local partners is getting better and better. With the help of numerous volunteers helping with the implementation of the day, we have managed to create a super sporty and educational experience for the participating schools” says Nicola Scholl of PLAY HANDBALL, who has carried out the first and only climate-neutral tournament series on the African continent in collaboration with the Konrad -Adenauer-Stiftung e. V. (KAS). Besides the handball sport, the participants also focus on a conscious and sustainable approach to the environment.

In spring 2017 three tournaments of the series took place. One took place on 20^th /21^st  of October in Johannesburg at the German International School (DSJ), one on 27^th /28^th of October in Cape Town at the German International School (DSK) and one on 3^rd /4^th of November in Dimbaza / King William’s Town (MADA).

In total there were 438 participants (266 in Johannesburg, 172 in Cape Town). 386 children and adolescents (aged 10 to 14 years) were active in the tournaments and 99 coaches were trained in workshops. There was a successful mix of genders and nationalities. There were also various regions of the country represented.

Sporting winners were as follows:

Johannesburg – U12 Mix: 1. German International School Pretoria, 2. Mdelwa Hlongwane Primary School, 3. German International School Johannesburg. U14 Mix: 1. German International School Pretoria, 2. Kilowatt Delmas, 3. German International School Johannesburg. U14 Boys: 1. German International School Johannesburg, 2. German International School Pretoria, 3. Inkata Ka Zulu Primary School. U14 Girls: 1. German International School Pretoria, 2. Kuzimisela Primary School, 3. Dumehlezi Primary School.

Cape Town – U14 Mix: 1. German International School Cape Town, 2. Kuyasa Primary School (Cape Town), 3. Kayamandi Handball Team (Stellenbosch)

Next to sport, the environment was one of the winners, because the participating schools and teams also had their environmental tasks in focus. Within the framework of the school project “Save-Water” all but three schools (who had registered at short notice) brought along their posters explaining how water wastage can be reduced.

In addition, the so-called ECO-Trail was used again. Many students are already quite familiar with it and also the “newcomers” learned again on topics such as recycling and waste separation at the various stations. Candice Mostert from the Cape Town environmental organization Waste-ED and her team have again designed the ECO-Trail.

The overall conclusion of the participating coaches and teachers was positive. They emphasized the importance of environmental issues and how much the children would learn in this context.

Text by Ruwen Möller