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The Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) rugby program, thanks to the kind donation of supporter Stacy Santos, were special guests at a screening of the movie depicting Nelson Mandela’s transition into power in South Africa around the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
With the powerful words from the William Henry poem resonating through their young minds, (I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul,) the 110 students from across three high schools and five middle schools left the theatre with enthusiasm for both their education and future in rugby.
“It was a chance to show the students, how worldly and historic rugby is,” Santos said.
“I felt the movie fired up the kids with inspiration and drive for the game of rugby, international travel, and being open minded to all possibilities.
“ICEF rugby has unlimited growth potential. It's an amazing program with very driven teachers and leaders and you can see very clearly how it is changing student’s lives.”
As an added bonus, former Australian Wallabies player and coach Jake Howard attended the screening and spoke about his personal dealings with both Mandela and rugby around the world.
Howard, and his wife Margariete, first inspired the rugby students in 2009 through coaching clinics and now believes some of the future stars of American rugby reside in the group.
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“The ICEF Rugby program in South Central Los Angeles is truly wonderful and coaching in the program is one of the most rewarding things my wife Margariete and I have ever done,” Howard said.
“Each year I see such improvement in ability and numbers. Rugby is a great fit for these kids not just because it is a special game, but also because it allows for all shapes, sizes and abilities to play.
“These players have also been exposed to the wonderful global nature of rugby in Hong Kong and the UK and have more trips planned on the horizon which is a great incentive for them to do well in their studies and to train hard at their rugby.”
With the ICEF girls’ team set to travel to Hong Kong during the world famous Hong Kong Sevens later this year and the ICEF boys preparing for a trip to Washington DC to play the Hyde Leadership Academy, the excitement is already building.
A further tour to South Africa is also mooted for 2011; such is the popularity and growth explosion amongst the ICEF rugby community.