|  | Current Issues | No.55 January 2009 |
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Sport in Action |
Sport In Action (SIA) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) whose purpose is to improve people’s quality of life through sport and recreational activities. Founded in 1998, SIA was the first Zambian sports NGO. With Sport for Development (the use of sport as a tool for social change) as its underlying principle, SIA positively impacts the lives of thousands of children throughout 24 districts in Zambia. SIA staff and volunteers work with more than 160,000 children each week, many of whom come from challenging backgrounds. Through this work, lives have been transformed due to knowledge enhancement in the areas of health and life skills, behavioural change towards both family and peers and improvement in sporting abilities. SIA, in partnership with the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), organised the first ever Zambian Sport for Development Awards ceremony on Thursday 20th November, 2008. The event was to celebrate SIA’s 10 year anniversary and to reward and recognise those who work at the grassroots level of sport and not just high performance athletes and coaches. Corporate entities, ministries and the media were awarded for their involvement in sport as a tool for social change, as well as teachers, coaches, athletes and children. The method of determining nominees was ground-breaking in itself. Rather than offering the public names to choose from, SIA called on members of the public to submit nominations for anyone that they felt deserved an award. As a result, SIA received the names and profiles of over 500 individuals and institutions operating throughout Zambia in Sport for Development. Clearly people took full advantage of the opportunity to properly thank the coach, teacher or parent who had shown them special support and encouragement and who they had never been able to thank before. There were 11 categories of awards, each sponsored by an institution, be it a corporate or media entity, a ministry or other organisation. A twelfth category of awards comprised the special SIA Game On awards only, highlighting particularly outstanding achievements and contributions of certain individuals and institutions. These included awards to Violet Bwalya and Joseph Mugobo, two children with disabilities who earned Zambia’s first ever medals at the Special Olympics in 2007, as well as Esther Phiri, the renowned boxer, who has acted as an inspiration for girls in sport, and Samuel Matete, the athlete, for his outstanding contributions to community sport. The new Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development, Minister Kenneth Chipungu, was the Guest of Honour. The First Republican President, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, also graced the occasion to receive a special award for his Outstanding Contributions to the Creation of Children’s Sport and Recreation Facilities and the former First Lady, Mrs. Maureen Mwanawasa, also received an award on behalf of the late President, Dr. Levi Mwanawasa. Dr. Mwanawasa was awarded for his Outstanding Contribution to Physical Education following his announcement in 2005, which made Physical Education a compulsory component of the national curriculum. The event was beamed live by ZNBC on national television, ensuring that the achievements of those acting at the grassroots level in sport was enjoyed and witnessed by people from all districts throughout Zambia and not just those in Lusaka. Both print and electronic media representatives also attended, ensuring wide coverage of this inaugural and innovative event. A huge thank you must go to the sponsors of the event: ZNBC, Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, IAYS, National Milling Corporation, Kicking AIDS Out, Associated Printers, Multi Choice, Coca Cola, Zambia Army, Zambia National Services, Save The Children Sweden, Durham University, Mad Max Autospares, Zesco, Pulggie Sports, Blue Crest Executive Lodge, Natural Valley, Californian Beverages and British Council. Without their support for this event and Sport for Development, many sporting initiatives, which impact the lives of thousands of children throughout Zambia, would never happen. SIA and NSCZ also organised an Independence Sports Festival, sponsored by the Society for Family Health (SFH), on 24th October, 2008. This was a fundraising event for sport for children with disabilities in the 28 special needs schools that SIA has programs in. The festival was graced by the Director of Sport from the MOYSCD, Mr. Bernard Nakacinda, and the Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Zambia, Ms. Hazel Kennedy. It was open to all members of the public including ministries, companies, children, teachers and people living with HIV and AIDS. The day enabled marginalised members of society, including people living with HIV and AIDS and children with disabilities, to participate in sporting activities that they would not normally have access to, to celebrate in the independence festivities and encouraged all members of society to mix and socialise together. The day was extremely successful with over 900 participants enjoying football, volleyball, basketball, netball, athletics, traditional games and tug of war. The money raised has been put towards the purchasing of equipment for sport for children with disabilities. A proportion of raised funds was also donated to the NSCZ. All participants and organisers were exposed to healthy and positive living education, which was provided by SFH, thereby ensuring that widespread understanding of the virus continues throughout the country. The event was covered by Times of Zambia, The Post, Muvi TV and CBC. Wide coverage of the event both before and after the day ensured that the public also received education on the breaking down of misplaced stereotypes and beliefs for marginalised members of society. Highlighting an event where all members of society are mixing and socialising together is a rare occurrence in Zambia and it is therefore extremely important that every opportunity to display this is taken full advantage of. Contact Clement Mubanga Chileshe Executive Director Sport In Action House Burma Road, Kabwata, P. O. Box 50144 Lusaka, Zambia Email: clementchileshe@yahoo.com / sia@zamtel.zm Website: www.sportinaction.org http://www.icsspe.org/portal/index.php?w=1&z=5 Sport in Action