CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

After a challenging 2020, it was our wish that 2021 would bring the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA new opportunities for growth and innovation to the benefit of our respective businesses and programmes.

I am pleased to say that we made great strides last year, despite the continued challenges of changing lockdown levels in the country, and would like to start off by paying tribute and extend my thanks to our funding partners, stakeholders, ambassadors, trustees, project leaders, management team and staff. You continued to collaborate to keep the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation’s vision alive through making a positive difference in the communities we serve, and I am truly grateful and proud to walk this road with you.

Global Message

Over the past two decades, Laureus has helped to change the lives of more than six million young people. Whether they are using boxing to help kids escape gangs in Rio de Janeiro, surfing to support the mental health of young people in Cape Town, basketball to get kids into college in New York, or rock climbing to create opportunity for young people with disabilities in Tokyo, the 250 programmes we are proud to support in 50 countries and territories around the world are living proof of President Mandela’s words: “Sport has the power to change the world.”

Despite the increased challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, and a need to constantly adapt their delivery in the face of shifting restrictions, our partners continued to deliver against that belief in 2021. In doing so they were backed every step of the way by the Laureus family – our Academy Members, Ambassadors, funding partners, our staff, the media who tell stories of this impact, and all those committed to using sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage. Our sincere thanks goes to all of them, as always, for providing the drive that underpins this global movement.

And it is a global movement. This work happens on a local level, driven by local leaders and changemakers.

But over the past 12 months, there has been ongoing recognition of that community impact at the highest level of international collaboration. In October, the World Health Organization praised Laureus’ work as a ‘key action to unlock genuine impact’ and highlighted that our community impact model ‘moves from traditional ‘top down’ grant-making to collective, coalition-based community funding and decision-making,’ adding ‘Its funding models also support knowledge sharing, partnership building and measuring long-term impact.’ The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, meanwhile, cited Laureus as ‘a valued contributor to the report of the United Nations Secretary General,’ on the use of sport, adding ‘we believe that sport can play a critical role and encourage all to explore it as a cost-effective way to drive genuine social change.’

I hope that those reading this Annual Report will see it as evidence that the United Nations, just like President Mandela, is correct in that belief. Sport can play a critical role – and indeed it is playing a critical role, every day. South Africa’s incredible network of Sport for Development programmes includes some of the most innovative, vibrant and impactful programmes you can find anywhere in the world. Their impact on young people is profound. Laureus South Africa’s place at their side is one of support, of servant-leadership and of pride in their efforts, and we thank all of them – and you – for driving this work forward for another year. We look forward to seeing what can be achieved together in 2022.

COUNTRY PATRON REPORT

As Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) we firmly believe that our purpose, to First Move the World, guided us through these unprecedented challenges caused by COVID-19. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, it tested our resolve, resilience and leadership.

It is no secret that as MBSA, our primary objective is to serve our customers and provide them with the best premium and luxury vehicles. As the inventor of the automobile, we have been doing so for over 136 years, always reinventing the automobile and mobility in its most luxurious form, decade in, decade out. However, a key aspect of our corporate culture is also to serve the community and with that, we are a socially conscious organisation. We recognise that we do not just build cars – we build communities too.

GOLF FOR GOOD

With Laureus Sport for Good being the official Charity Partner of the British and Irish Lions Tour, we hosted two golf days to celebrate the partnership while also raising further funds to help Laureus with the continued implementation of Sport for Good programmes in various communities.

These golf days-taking place at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, The East Championship Course, and Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course respectively, attracted 164 golfers and raised over R400,000 in total