In a netball tournament with a difference, approximately 100 young girls from 12 teams across the Cape Peninsula braved a wet, windy, and chilly Saturday at Milnerton High School to compete in an event about much more than just winning.

Unlike typical sporting events, this tournament, called NxtGenWomxn Lite, emphasized that every participant, aged 11 to 17, was a winner. In addition to the matches, the girls engaged in mental health awareness and personal growth sessions, delivered by trained facilitators, in between rounds of netball.

The event, organized by the Cape Town-based non-profit organization School of Hard Knocks (SoHK), combined sport with mental health education. SoHK is dedicated to promoting mental health among women and girls; this event was no exception. According to their assessments, 94% of the participants learned healthy ways to cope with overwhelming emotions, 84% gained knowledge about whom to contact when struggling, and 86% developed a deeper understanding of their emotions.

Parents who attended the event were impressed by the initiative. Sandra Wilson from Parklands brought all four of her daughters and shared her thoughts: “This was a wonderful day for our kids, who came out despite the rain. It was an interesting initiative, and the lessons they learned today were invaluable. Mixing sports with learning sessions is important, as it helps kids think both on and off the court, especially when emotions are difficult to manage.”

One of her daughters added, “We learned to respect other people’s opinions and emotions. We also learned that everyone has a different perspective, and it’s essential to compromise and meet each other halfway whenever possible.”

Elzaan Knipe, whose daughter plays for Pro Star Netball Academy, expressed her delight: “It’s lovely to see kids from different communities come together. I told my daughter to be aware that many kids don’t know what it feels like to be loved or to have opportunities. We saw sessions where kids spoke about mental health issues, and children must understand these topics.”

Nontlantla Noni Mxakaza, a coach from Pro Star Netball Academy and an umpire for Tygerberg Netball Club, noted that this was her first time working with SoHK. She appreciated bringing together children from resource-strapped townships and those from more privileged suburbs. “Although I wasn’t part of the sessions since I was officiating some of the games, I overheard the girls discussing how they react to certain situations, the emotions they can and cannot control, and how this impacts them emotionally, psychologically, and in their responses to various situations.”

SoHK would like to express their gratitude to Milnerton High School for the use of their facilities, the Khayelitsha Netball Federation, Pro Star Netball academy, the umpires, the NxtGenWomxn facilitators, and especially the participants for making the first NxtGenWomxn Lite a huge success.

For more information visit www.schoolofhardknocks.co.za

To find out more, visit the School of Hard Knocks website at www.schoolofhardknocks.co.za or contact the SoHK team at info@schoolofhardknocks.co.za