Students hand over sport equipment

Daryn Wood

PUPILS at Machiu Primary School in Bethelsdorp will be having a lot more fun at break time after receiving new sports and playground equipment.
A group of five third year NMMU human movement science students, specialising in sports management, recently handed over sports equipment and a fitness circuit to the school.

A major task for the completion of the students’ year long specialisation was providing a less privileged school with playground structures that would “stimulate free play and promote the development of gross motor skills”.
Machiu is one of three schools that have been renovated by HMS students.
Apart from building a fitness circuit which includes balance beams, monkey bars and benches, the students also painted games such as hop scotch on the tarmac to develop hand-eye coordination.
Mini soccer goal posts were also donated to the school as well as a large amount of sport equipment including hockey sticks, soccer balls and rugby balls.

“As HMS students it is our duty to promote physical activity and its vast benefits,” said student Michelle Galloway.

NMMU lecturer Dr Cheryl Walter said: “We saw kids standing around during break, some were kicking a coke bottle around because they didn’t have a ball.”
Machiu principal Ralph Blignaut thanked the students for their hard work and dedication during the handover ceremony.
“Healthy bodies make healthy minds,” Blignaut told the pupils.