During the Scottish Inter Reigonal Squash event, 12-year-old Callum Smith organised a clothing and kit collection, with over 200 squash items including clothes, rackets and shoes being sent to South Africa’s Joburg Squash Foundation.
Callum, who is the Scottish U13 Champion, was inspired to organise the collection after watching the Beyond These Walls: The Gazakulu Squash documentary.
The documentary is about two young, impoverished squash players training on The Gazankulu Squash Court, a rundown squash court deep in one of South Africa’s poorest townships — Soweto.
His Mother, Linsey Brown, said:
“Callum and I watched the documentary when it first came out and Callum was shocked to see that they were playing on a court with no electricity etc. The realisation that the young boy might not be able to compete at the tournament because of lack of funding also was a shock to him.”
“The documentary on the whole made him realise just what he takes for granted (good facilities, kit etc) in relation to squash and he realised just how hard the kids and coaches at Gazankulu have to work just to be able to play squash.”
“He wanted to help in a practical way and the clothing was what he chose. Many kids have clothing sponsorships and also receive tournament t-shirts regularly and, because they are continually growing, a lot of the kit is grown out of while still in very good condition.”
“The Scottish Inter Regionals were in September so he thought that it would be a good opportunity to collect donations from juniors from all across Scotland.”
“Callum just loves squash and wants other people to love squash too, so helping kids, like him, to play was what he wanted.”
The Joburg Squash Foundation assists youth (u/23) from disadvantaged communities in the Johannesburg region and works closely with our partner Squash for Development Organisations, Egolisquash.
They provide squash equipment, playing opportunities from participation to competition, as well as educational tutoring and scholarships for their participants
Philip Maxton, Chairman of Joburg Squash, said:
“It is so uplifting to think that a 12-year-old squash player would be moved by our documentary to help fellow young squash players from the other side of the world and that his friends and their families would be so incredibly generous.”
“The quantity and the quality of the equipment and clothing donated is amazing and it was emotional for me to see the kids at Gazankulu receive them. The Scottish junior squash community should be very proud of what they have done.”
Learn more about the Joburg Squash Foundation
If you or your club are inspired to donate squash equipment to communities in need across the world, why not check our Rebound recycling program!
Rebound is a PSA Foundation initiative to collect usable squash gear and send the donations across the world. We carefully select the programmes that receive Rebound donations so we know they are going where they are needed the most.
