Delft Sports Complex @enkosi Foundation

Delft Sports Complex is a recreational facility that was designed and created to help grow the community’s youth in a more positive way. The facility has been in use for 23 years and has held many tournaments during the years. This facility has a soccer field, netball court, cricket field, tennis court and basketball court which is used by teams all around Delft. It has been a huge contributor to decreasing the high levels of gangsterism and drug use, because it keeps the youth occupied and off the streets. It also provides youth the opportunity to practice and improve their talents on a daily basis. The sports complex has been in close partnership with the Enkosi Foundation which is a youth empowerment organization that uses sports and arts as a tool to rehabilitate and keep youth engaged. It has really made a big difference in the Delft community and encouraged the youth to dream big. But maintaining the facility has been a struggle due to theft, vandalism and gangsterism, another issue has been the lack of sponsorships and workers on the field. Community leaders have with no doubt tried the utmost best to keep the complex safe, so that the youth may have a place to go. For me growing up in Delft and being exposed to a lack of recreational activities, the sports complex was a great way to keep me busy because I not only played netball but also learned to play new sports like tennis and cricket. The facility has been a small pleasure for the youth to play, as it is not safe to play in the streets because of the gang wars that the youth of Delft is faced with on a daily basis. This complex has been the greatest achievement for the youth of Delft, and I hope that more youth empowerment facilities like this gets established in Delft.