Taking sport to another level

The association aims at addressing issues of health as well as poverty in the area and has over the years provided sports knowledge and athletic skills to recognise talent and create opportunities for the rural youth to participate in national competitions.

The three day festival held at Siaskabole Basic School drew participants from a number of surrounding schools, the community, representatives from the Ministry of Youth and CYP Staff.

Young people in Siasikabole, like in many other parts of Africa continue to face a lot of challenges, the major ones being poverty, HIV/AIDS, early marriages and teen pregnancies.

In line with its mission of engaging and empowering young people, CYP Africa in collaboration with the Government of Zambia through the Ministry of Sports Youth and Child Development takes part in these annual events with a view of strengthening the links between the young people of Siaskabole and other stake-holders. This event further encourages interaction between urban and rural youths of southern province. CYP intends to use sport as a tool for promoting education, health, development and peace and further generate opportunities for youths in this village.

As a way of helping to inspire young people to develop into well adjusted and confident adults and encouraging them soar and rise above their challenges, CYP members of staff took part in a number of games. The sports grounds were filled with lots of youthful energy and excitement. While the CYP team played admirably they were no match to the youths who played like professionals despite their lack of sports shoes and other basic sports gear.

It is widely accepted that any development activity that excludes young people will not achieve sustainable results. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the sports festivals, CYP Africa Regional Director Mr. James Odit commended the Association, participating schools and the community for the commitment shown to the cause and urged all partners to continue engaging young people in activities that affect them.

“The Commonwealth is proud to see the strides being taken by the Association and the community to address the challenges young people are facing. The Commonwealth Secretariat urges that at the national level, the views of young people must be heard and acted upon in every corner of public life, and the contributions of the young should be embraced. At the community level, we urge all partners to continue to instill in young people a sense of shared responsibility and at the level of individual young people; we must continue to build both skills and a sense of self-belief.”

Mr. Odit further mentioned that the Commonwealth Secretariat is fully committed in enhancing and sustaining youth development and reaffirmed that CYP Africa will always be near to offer technical support whenever youths of Siasikabole cry for help.

The Siasikabole Sports for all Association has undertaken carpentry and welding projects to increase youth training and employment opportunities. To support these initiatives, CYP Africa expressed commitment to collaborate with the Association on the resource centre development. The Chairman of the Association, the Community and Village headman praised CYP Africa for the passion it attaches to youth development initiatives.