Hostel sports day emphasizes teamwork

Today was sports day at the Princess Royal Youth Hostel and while many schools have such events, the one I visited today is more special than most.

Despite the intense heat of the day, the young residents of Princess Royal Youth Hostel turned out in numbers, dressed in their team’s uniform, to compete in the institution’s annual sports day.

Kenneth Peters, Acting Supervisor, Princess Royal Youth Hostel

“This goes way back to the creation of the institution in the 1960’s and it has been a tradition ever since, on the Monday before Good Friday.”

The event, which is considered one of the hostel’s main activity of the year, is held as a final get together for the residents before they head home for the Easter holidays.

Kenneth Peters

“Basically we started this morning with a marathon, at six this morning and then we start basketball… volleyball. We will also have tug-o-war, lime and spoon race, sack race, needle and thread race and various other races for the younger residents.”

Peters says because the boys and girls have never been engaged in organized competitive sports, the event is more than just a farewell gathering for the residents and staff.

Kenneth Peters

“And for them to get to this level, to really get as a team, successfully have a sports day, it says a lot for them in the rehabilitation process.”

Q: “What does it says for the staff cause I noticed some staff members are playing?”

Kenneth Peters

“Well it really does for us, we have a fierce competition amongst staff members of different teams. So it puts us in a position where we and the residents are a same at this time and we are working for the betterment of our team.”

Although a few players had to be called out because of their overly aggressive behavior, it didn’t take them long to return to court and demonstrate that they can work together as a team.

The Princess Royal Youth Hostel is a residential facility for youths with disciplinary problems.