Dartboard Maths: Devon Petersen's initiative inspiring Cape Town's youth
Devon Petersen, a South African dart champion, is revolutionising education in Cape Town through his innovative Dartboard Maths initiative, merging sports with learning to inspire local youth.
Image: Supplied
If you can dream, dream big and bring international programs right to the children of Cape Town, like Delft. This is exactly what former Mitchell’s Plain resident, now living in the UK, SA Dart champion Devon Petersen is doing.
Petersen is the founder of Dartboard Maths and the International Darts School League and is the only South African to become a professional dart player on the world circuit.
A few years ago, Petersen created a module called Dartboard Maths, inspired by helping his child with mathematics.
The first piloted Dart Math Centre in Cape Town opened last week at Rosendal High School in Delft and has already reached global status, starting in South Africa in Gqeberha two years ago and now home to over 400 youth dart players.
Petersen has partnered with NPC, CARES, and Culture, Arts, Recreation and Sport to bring Dartboard Maths to Cape Town.
Dartboard Maths merges maths with sports-based learning, making it fun and improving numeracy and problem-solving skills, which supports academics and participation in the International School Darts League (ISDL).
ISDL offers South African students international exposure, life skills, and potential career pathways in sports via the African Darts Group. According to Petersen and CARES, the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) World Series in Cape Town boosts tourism and inspires youth to pursue darts, complementing Dartboard Maths and ISDL.
Just last week, a prefab building was converted into the Dart Centre at Rosendal High School, known as the Purple Door initiative, where children can identify a safe space for sports and maths. Petersen expressed his excitement about returning to his home country: “Our movement now in Delft transcends anything I have ever dreamed of. We know that if we expose our youth to positive activities, they will absorb that.”
Devon Petersen, a South African dart champion, is revolutionising education in Cape Town through his innovative Dartboard Maths initiative.
Image: Supplied
Llewellyn Rhoda, Director of CARES, said the goal was to create a positive environment for youth and bring international opportunities to them. The Western Cape Education Department welcomed the initiative, stating that extra-curricular activities underpin the holistic development of learners.
Cape Argus