Turku Worlds is a victory in itself for South African Juniors

___________
Heidi Kalmari

"Just to have these guys here and playing is the greatest thing", describes Matthew Shaes of the feeling among the South African Junior Open team. Shaes, with the help of other South Africa Open players, have acheived a goal they had set more than two years ago: brining young boys from the disadvantaged Khayelitsha area in Cape Town to play at Worlds, their first real games ever.

Shaes and others started a development program 7 years ago, in which they have been getting young South Africans out in the fields and throwing frisbees. Eight of those youths, assisted by a few players from Estonia, Great Britain and Sweden, have now completed their first tournament.

"This is also the first time that these boys are outside South Africa," says Saes. He adds that none had ever been in an airplane either. The Khayelitsha boys gained credits on their tournament fees by volunteering in the tournament catering, but mostly their trip was funded by the Finnish Emabassy in South Africa. Shaes wants also to thank all the people in the Turku Worlds organizing committee who made this possible.