The money to run this program came courtesy of Volleyball Canada which received $425,000 from Sport Canada this year to help fund 30 different community sport organizations and their activities. It is part of Sport Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative.
Mabiza jumped at the chance to be one of the 30 programs so he could purchase much needed volleyballs and nets and offer volleyball coaching so the children would have another option beyond soccer.
“Some parents asked us what other activities we had for kids who don’t like soccer. That’s when this opportunity came up for volleyball,” Mabiza says. “The children are having a blast.”
Mabiza says parents in the area often can’t access organized sport programs because of the costs and time commitment.
Besides offering the free activities here at the park, they also provide these same soccer and volleyball programs at six different elementary schools in the area.
“It’s been a great way to introduce volleyball to these children who wouldn’t have done it before. Because we are outdoors, we get kids walking by on the street. They come over and say, ‘can I try it’?
Mabiza says the children quickly realize how much coordination the sport takes. It is not just jumping and hitting the ball hard. There are techniques and skills they need to learn to get the ball over the net.
Mabiza adds he likes to organize the program in a different way. “It’s less structured. The children have been very excited about that. It’s really important when you are trying something new to have less structure. The kids can be themselves when they are doing it. It’s been really cool to see.”
Maria Enriquez-Quilantang has brought snacks and drinks for the kids and other parents tonight as she watches her son Caye enjoy his time trying out volleyball as well as soccer. Caye who is eight has attention deficit disorder or ADHD which sometimes makes it difficult for him to focus and be part of organized sports.
“People with ADHD, if they’re not interested, they don’t pay attention. But when they’re interested, their focus and concentration is there,” Enriquez says. She adds Caye looks forward to coming to this program every week and rhymes off a few of the other highlights.
“It has been amazing to seeing Caye socialize with the other children, listen to the coaches, participate in soccer and volleyball and play with the balloons. I am so happy because this program has really helped him grow.”
Another parent, Robin Keith has three children in the program who are bouncing up and down with unbridled energy at the end of night, like they’ve had too much chocolate.
“You can feel the energy from the kids. It’s just like magic when you see all the kids playing together.”
She adds, “I lost my husband about four years ago so it’s just me. It’s been pretty tight (financially) and I couldn’t afford to put all three into soccer. These kinds of things are great for kids, because it involves them, and they don’t feel left out.”
Mabiza says the addition of volleyball to the program has been such a success he hopes to continue it into the fall.
Volunteer coach Hassan says he sometimes struggles to stay on track, but he’s determined to remain involved in this program. This hit home even more for Hassan after he recently saw one of his old friends killed in a stabbing attack on a bus in Surrey.
“I think it’s really sad to see people dying at such young ages and all the stabbings and shootings going on. It kind of scares me but it also motivates me to work harder to be a better role model and to pull myself and other kids out of these situations the best that I can.”
Story by Teddy Katz; photos by Derek Stevens