2018 Bradley John Fisher - Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club - South Africa

Bradley John Fisher(South Africa) with the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club (SCARC) - Nominee for the 2018 Foundation Award

YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0OIsqcSOEQ
Documentary: www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7eQnJf8VlI&t=5s

Born: 1967, Sport: Marathon, Category: Tourism/Recreation

Deep in the South of Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city is a sprawling squatter camp aptly named after Elias Motseledi, one of the country’s famous anti-apartheid activists. In early 2003 Marathon paddler Brad Fisher and a group of likeminded canoeists formed a canoe club right next to the squatter camp on a small dam that was used to cool the towers of a derelict coal-fired power station.

The Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club (SCARC) was established to introduce disadvantaged youth in Soweto to watersports. Under Brad’s direction, the club not only teaches youth how to swim and participate in watersports, but also to develop crucial life skills. It has grown into a robust and sustainable club run by a group of dedicated volunteers covering everything from coaching and mentoring to education and nutrition programs.

SCARC has produced some of the most exciting up and coming young paddlers in the country, including Siseko Ntondini, who became the first black South African to receive a podium place at the Hansa Fish Canoe Marathon in 2015. Siseko and the SCARC paddlers have  gone on to win gold medals at the Dusi Canoe Marathon, considered one of the world’s toughest river races, plus every major race on the South African paddling calendar.

More than a canoeing coach Brad is also as a life coach. In the last 14 years he has employed 25  SCARC members in his company, assisting with job shadowing, temporary jobs, permanent jobs, management training and skills development.