Kasi canoeists break barriers and make a mark at the Dusi marathon

In the early 2000's, a group of avid canoeists from the Dabulamanzi Canoe Club in Emmerentia, Johannesburg, were adamant and driven to get young development paddlers from the nearby townships into the challenging and incredibly rewarding sport of canoeing.

- By Kgomotso Mokoena

All SCARC canoeists successfully completed the challenging three-day course through the Valley of a Thousand Hills

(Photos : Supplied)

As a result, the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club (SCARC) was born. It was founded on the banks of the Power Park Dam in Soweto by Brad Fisher, the chairman of Adreach, and the project became part of the Adreach Adapt A Project Foundation.

The young canoeists come predominantly from the informal settlement behind Baragwanath Hospital, and are between the ages of six and 18.

“Permission was obtained for us to use the Power Park Dam and SCARC was formed in 2003. The club is now a full fledged First Rand Youth Development Initiative,” said co-founder of Adreach Steve Jourdan.