The WaterBoy builds strong communities
Today the gap between the haves and have nots is growing in New Zealand. Thomas Nabbs, Founder of The WaterBoy sees the benefits that sports brings, as an opportunity to build stronger communities and make New Zealand a better place to live.
The WaterBoy is a Hamilton based charity that is breaking down barriers for New Zealanders to participate in sports. They have been registered as a charity for just over a year, but have been providing services for longer than that. Since they started, The WaterBoy has worked with more than 50 kids, and impacted close to half a million lives.
The WaterBoy partners kids with business sponsors who through corporate social responsibility can give back, and help build stronger communities. Thomas says he himself wouldn’t be where he is today if it weren’t for sport.
Tuwhirinui Falwasser
“Everyone deserves opportunities to participate. And coming from a sports background myself, I know that through sports, kids can gain increased self confidence, respect, and pride. Sport cuts through cultures and backgrounds, and puts everyone on a level playing field. Playing sport is part of being kiwi,” says Thomas.
“Some of the same kids who would have had the opportunity to play sport 20 years ago are struggling to find a way. Instead, they’re hanging out with friends after school and they’re looking for the adrenaline rush of that first tackle, just in the wrong places” says Thomas.
The WaterBoy also run speaker series tackling homophobia in sports. Most kids who come to The WaterBoy are referred by schools, agencies, or other charities. Currently they offer services to the Waikato, but have plans to expand their services into the Bay of Plenty.
Tuwhirinui Falwasser (Tu) has been part of WaterBoy since it’s early days. Now a student at Hamilton Boys High, Tu met Thomas when he was 11 years old. Tu says that when he met Thomas, he found it hard in social situations, and could have easily gone down the wrong path in life.
“I struggled financially, and was in lots of fights when I was little,” says Tu.
Tu says that The WaterBoy has had a huge positive impact on his life.