Former Tennis Australia strength and conditioning coach, Daniel Buberis, has launched the Ray White Glenelg ‘South East Asia Community Family Tennis Fun Day’ to raise funds for orphanages and at-risk youth in the Philippines and Cambodia.
Working through his Australian-based charity foundation, Project 6, Daniel’s fundraiser will take place this Sunday, 7 February from 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm at the Peake Gardens Riverside Tennis Club in Adelaide.
Everyone is
welcome and money raised will support children who find themselves in
circumstances much like Daniel did at the start of his own life; living in an orphanage
on the outskirts of Manila, in the Philippines.
“Sunday is about
bringing together the community in the name of sport, culture and raising
awareness of children living in extreme poverty,” he says.
“Project 6 has the
aim of improving the lives of children who become orphaned, are living on the
street, or who don’t have stability at home due to illness or the premature
loss of a family member.
“I know that
through participation in sports like tennis, and in programs that provide physical
activity and education, the social and emotional well-being of children is
dramatically improved.”
Officially founded
at the end of 2018, Project 6 has already made an impact on the lives of
hundreds of children in the region.
“In the orphanages,
schools and universities that Project 6 has partnered with so far in the
Philippines, and with the Mission in Battambang, Cambodia, the resources that
we take for granted in Australia, do not necessarily exist,” explains Daniel.
“We aim to change
that by developing curriculums, donating equipment and employing local coaches,
so that underprivileged kids can create better life outcomes through sport,
just like I did.”
Sunday’s fundraising
event marks the foundation’s first since the global pandemic began, but that
doesn’t mean Daniel stood still in 2020.
While bringing on
new commercial and community partners for the foundation, including Adelaide accounting
firm Oreon and the Port Adelaide Football Club, he also found support in the
Philippines from legendary boxer, Manny Pacquiao.
After meeting in
2019, the Filipino senator and 12-time world champion, agreed to put his name
to a winter beanie fundraiser last year.
“It’s important to
us as a foundation that we’re getting support and recognition at such a high
level, despite the current limitations.
“It has been
difficult given that we haven’t been able to travel to the regions where we’ve
already formed important partnerships, but the outreach has continued.”
“Manny Pacquaio is
a legend who is doing a lot for the poorest of the poor in his home country, especially
during COVID, so to have our beanies out there for sale in support of his work
and ours, makes us very proud.”
Starting at 1.00 pm on Sunday, the Ray White Glenelg South East Asia Community Family Tennis Fun Day will feature food from the Central Market’s Little Khmer Kitchen and Azon’s Filipino Kitchen. There will also be live entertainment from the local Cambodian and Filipino communities.
A come ‘n’ try ANZ Tennis Hot Shots tournament for kids will be held, there will be coaching for adults, and an exhibition match will be played featuring some of SA’s best talent, namely Australian Open wildcard, Li Tu and previous 14/u national champion, Alex Despoja.
Also look out for giveaways and heaps of sporty activities to get involved in. Donation entry is $5 per adult, $3 for children under 15 and a $15 Family Pass is available for 2 adults and 3 children. The event will be held in accordance with current COVID guidelines.
For more information about the work of Project Six check out their website www.p6f.org.
Story and photo courtesy of Jon Aspin
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