Sports Project
The
Smiles Foundation is involved with many projects aimed at providing
support and
opportunity in a variety of ways to the Romanian people. The newest
project to
be
added is ‘Sport’ – having been launched in October
2007 during a Mission
Trip that featured a ‘Tennis Camp’ with the special aspect of
catering for Disabled people confined to a Wheelchair but teaming up
with Able Bodied people for
coaching and playing.
See
Special Report
Under the organisational care of Project Administrator, Octavia Cimpoca – the Smiles Sport Project is being professionally advised
by John Noakes.
John is 58 years old and although British, currently lives in Holland
with his wife Barbara and runs his own Tennis School in Zoetermeer.
With 2 degrees in History from London University and having worked as
an accountant for a top British company, it took a while for John to
find his love for tennis expressed through coaching, first at his
school in Harpenden, England before moving to Holland in 1978. Now,
John is Part I and II recognised by the British LTA and a USPTR
Professional Coach by USTA.
John was coach of the Dutch National Wheelchair Tennis team, with 2
ladies and 1 man becoming World Champions. John was also the first
Chairman of the European Wheelchair Tennis Federation.
During John’s first visit to Romania in October 2007, a coach was
sought to run the monthly programme with Octavia and Smiles were
delighted to contract Josif Nemes as our Project Coach.
Josif was a professional club coach in Oradea and also successful at
European level as a Champion Table Tennis player.
Currently, through relationships established with local hospitals and
rehabilitation clinics, Smiles is running the only facility in
North West Romania for Wheelchair
Tennis. When the Tileagd
Gymnasium is completed from June 2008, regular coaching
sessions will begin for
Tennis, Table Tennis and Basketball. As facilities and resources
allow, Smiles will extend its Sporting coverage to include more and
more of the communities who lack these opportunities.
The
Smiles Foundation already owns land and plans to develop a Sports
Field with Soccer pitch, Tennis & Basketball courts and Running Track
when funds are available to build.
Meanwhile, Smiles will continue reaching out to the disabled and able
bodied community with the Tennis programme. Transporting the
Wheelchair participants is the most challenging task for every session
and we pray for sufficient financial support for this project to
purchase a mini-bus with Chair Lift or Ramp for the disabled.
For further information, contact:
Octavia Cimpoca –
info@thesmilesfoundation.org
Telephone –
(+40) 0259 – 318052
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