South Africa

The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa and its youth branch, HeartCore, celebrated World Heart Day by coordinating a fun-filled soccer day for disadvantaged children. “Heart Fun Five-A-Side Soccer Day” was designed to teach the children about the importance of physical activity as a means to stay healthy and strong. Approximately 100 children took part at the University of the Western Cape in the Bellville suburb of Cape Town. After a full morning of games, the children gathered under shade trees to lunch on heart-healthy pizzas and refreshments. The children received free t-shirts and were allowed to paint their faces. The event coincided with the end of Heart Awareness Month in South Africa, during which South Africans received free blood-pressure checks and were invited to participate in other health-related events.