MOT Enthusiasts’ Gathering 2020

“Helping Hands” – this was the theme for our first event for 2020 which took place on Friday, 6 March 2020. We hosted our MOT Enthusiasts’ Gathering at our partnering TVET College – False Bay TVET College, Khayelitsha Campus. It was a day well spent reuniting with our MOT Family and meeting new friends.

The theme “Helping Hands” means living Madiba’s Legacy in working together to achieve the change we want to see in our country. This is what MOT aims to do.

The MOT Enthusiasts’ Gathering celebrated all that MOT has achieved and the exciting journey that lies ahead in its growing stage. The purpose of the event was to inspire, to MOTivate and to ignite a passion for creating change with our MOT Team made up of educators, principals, CEOs, Youth (college and school), community organisations, parents, teachers, community volunteers, government officials – Department of Education and Social Development, corporate sponsors, MOT Brand Ambassadors – local celebs/role models in communities, sponsors and partners who were in attendance. The event aimed to empower and strengthen our youth, acknowledge excellence and hard work, celebrate achievements and uplift communities. We acknowledge that without our key partners mentioned above, MOT would not be able to reach their goal.

The guests arrived at the venue to dances by from the “welcome committee” and live entertainment by the Imbewu Marimba Community.

The guests then enjoyed a variety of motivational and inspirational talks including MOT Brand Ambassador and ex-South African Cricketer & Founder of JP21 Foundation, JP Duminy, and another live performance by the Imbewu Marimba Community who compelled everyone out of their seats and onto the dance floor.

MOT Brand Ambassadors and public figures that were in attendance: World Kungfu Champion, TV and Radio Host, MJ Li and Motivational Speaker, Simon Ekin. MOT Founder and Olympic Speedskater, Atle Vårvik and his wife, Sigrun Vårvik were also in attendance.

From left: MOT Founders, Atle Vårvik and Sigrun Vårvik, MOT SA Chairperson, Professor Eltie Links, Western Cape Education Department representative, Ismail Teladia, MOT Brand Ambassador, JP Duminy

MOT Ambassadors from left: World Kungfu Champion, TV and Radio Host, MJ Li, Motivational Speaker, Simon Ekin and ex-South African Cricketer & Founder of JP21 Foundation, JP Duminy

Other brand ambassadors and public figures who are involved with MOT are:

Professional Rugby Player, Siya Kolisi, International Motivational speaker, Robin Banks, Actress, Radio DJ & day TV Presenter, Ayanda Dlamini, Singer & Songwriter, Janice and Business Woman & Entrepreneur, Ency Litsoane, Radio Presenter & Media Personality Carl Wastie.

The guests were placed into different MOT workshops: Young MOTivators (Youth leaders), Refresher training for High Schools and TVET Colleges, and Value-Based Leadership for Management, which was facilitated by MOT Founder, Atle Vårvik.

Young MOTivator, Preston Saayman from Boland College, Caledon Campus presented his poem and spoke about what MOT means to him. “I am so happy that I could meet with the founder of MOT himself so that he can see what footprints he leaves behind. Thanks to MOT I’ve been reunited with my family. I’ve become more courageous and much more driven towards life itself.” MOT Coach and Young MOTivator, Cheslyn Rippenaar spoke about what MOT means to him and shared MOT SA’s 2020 theme: Courage2Rise which means to rise above all negative circumstances and go for your goals and dreams.

Click here to watch his speech.

Click here to read his poem.

Young MOTivators from False Bay TVET College, Fish Hoek Campus and COSAT shared their Courage to Care Day Projects which are Community projects.

MOT Founders, Atle and Sigrun Vårvik shared that they are proud and excited to be a part of the celebration with MOT SA and its youth and hearing how much MOT means to them touches their hearts.