Matt Finch

Matt took a 3 month period of leave from work to go to South Africa to spend time teaching and coaching sports for orphans and children in a Township called Nomzamo. It's one of the most important areas of change required to ensure sustainable development and keep the children from disadvantaged communities away from drugs, alcohol and criminal activities. In the area Matt went to there is high unemployment (c. 60%) which has resulted in many of the children having parents who have taken to the streets leaving their children unsupervised and fending for themselves.

Matt spent the first half of his time teaching a group to learn to surf and the second half teaching and coaching rugby to children and teachers in a Township School. He's based in the Western Cape at Gordon's Bay (in-between Cape Town and Stellenbosch) at the foot of Hollenton Hollands Mountain Range, where he work's Monday to Friday.

He's paid for the whole trip himself which the costs were significant in a bid to learn about himself, as well as help put something back into a poorer community. It's a fantastic thing he's gone to do and a selfless act for a young 27 year old guy. As his line manager, I'm very proud of him for going out there to make a difference, I'm sure the guys out there will benefit hugely from his work and it's a great opportunity for Matt to have new experiences outside of Garforth!