It can seamlessly integrate into daily routines, helping individuals develop skills applicable to various aspects of life, including work, school, and relationships. This is a principle that has been adopted by the Lobatse-based Dojo Ken Karate Club under the leadership of Sensei Keone Kgorotlhe. The latter told MmegiSport that most people consider karate to be all about fighting and physical fitness but there is more to it. He said some people joined karate thinking they would be taught how to beat up other people, only to be disappointed when encouraged not to fight. “When schools go for a break, especially on the third term which is the longest, our children roam the streets without any plan or purpose. They end up getting mixed up with the wrong crowds, some even end up drinking alcohol, (taking) drugs, and (engaging in) substance abuse. In our town, we have street children, nobody looks in their direction because everyone has given up on them. We always see them around malls, holding small boxes under their noses. They are sniffing glue, thick industrial glue meant for shoe repairs and upholstery,” he said. Kgorotlhe explained that last year, he felt enough was enough and that he should do something, hence he came up with Lobatse summer training camp (Gashuku).
He said this week, the second edition of the camp was concluded. Kgorotlhe said the programme is a sport for development camp, which is meant to equip participants with sport skills, life skills, character building, and interrelation skills. He said the camp offers other sporting codes such as volleyball and football. “The camp is for children between the ages of six and 21 years, with some being karate practitioners. Street children are also involved in the camp because it keeps them busy and for a few days they do not put their lives at risk by sniffing glue.
The idea is to take them off the streets and eventually have them going back to school and doing something worthwhile with their lives,” Kgorotlhe said. He said glue is not a controlled substance but it is illegal for children to sniff it. He added that glue can lead to brain damage and can cause sudden death. Kgorotlhe said from last year’s camp, three street children went back to school and another one is a vendor. He mentioned that some lessons were offered by lecturers from the Lobatse Institute of Health Sciences (IHS), and participants were divided according to age groups. “Last year we had 46 participants between the ages of six and 21 and 17 of them were street children.
This year, the camp attracted 53 participants, 13 of them were street children. We had 10 girls compared to 21 in the first edition. The town leadership and officials from the Ministry of Sport and Arts visited the camp and shared a few words with the students and donated board games and footballs,” he said. Kgorotlhe said despite being a good initiative for changing lives, the camp comes with costs. He also said some parents assisted with money whilst IHS donated the venue.
