Uganda: Buwate Sports Academy

Sports

Peace One Day Games

Buwate Sports Academy participated in various tournaments, such as the Peace One Day Games.

• The funding from RMF/MTCF enabled Buwate Sports Academy to organize the Peace One Day Games for the children. The event was held in September, and attracted many participants and spectators. The goal of this event is to highlight the need of promoting peace in the world.
• Funds from RMF/MTCF enabled Buwate Sports Academy to purchase trophies, which were later handed over to the two winning teams during the Peace One Day Games. The participating teams included the players under 9, under 12, under 14, and under 17 years.
• Buwate Sports Academy organized football (American soccer) trainings for the children through in-house games and practice, and away games.

Hope

Redefining a Community

Buwate Sports Academy has:

• created publicity for the area. Buwate used to get very little positive attention, but it is gradually becoming a popular place, with great hope that this will attract social services from the government and other development partners.
• changed the negative impression that the rest of the city had of Buwate. Buwate was previously known as a slum, an area for criminals. Now Buwate Sports Academy has redefined the area as hub for talented children.
• given hope to community members. The children in Buwate can now see that it’s possible to succeed in their community. Additionally, young adults now see the opportunity of vocational training in Buwate, and this reduced the level of despair among community members, especially the youth.

Academics

Scholarship Opportunities

Buwate Sports Academy has created an opportunity for children and youth to:

• develop their talents in sports. Some youth from poor families have received scholarships to affluent schools in Kampala, which they would never be able to access if not for their talent and training in sports.
• improve child-to-parent relationships especially through informative talks that we conduct with parents.
• sustain and retain children in school. This is because of scholastic materials that are given to the children and sensitization provided during trainings: “School is good.”
• School fees were paid for the 65 children on scholarship, enabling them to complete their end of term examinations without interruption.

Changing Perspectives

Promoting Positive Behaviors

Buwate Sports Academy has influenced positive behavior change in the community. The children know that it is good to be in school, it is not good to be violent, substance abuse is bad, early marriage is not good, etc.

We are promoting gender equality; for instance, the community had a mentality that soccer is for men, but now they see girls exhibiting serious skills. This is promoting an attitude change.

Economics

Improved Livelihoods

Buwate Sports Academy is promoting livelihood skills through tailoring and hairdressing and beauty therapy classes. This component is expanding with the help of RMF.

Buwate Sports Academy has become a source of income to some community members, mostly the vocational instructors and support staff. This has improved the quality of life of these community members.

Building Relationships

Uniting Communities

Buwate Sports Academy has united the communities of Kireka, Buwate, Kiira, Seeta, and more. Youths from these communities are working together.

Local political and social leaders have developed an interest in Buwate Sports Academy activities. This is manifested by frequent visits to our office.