Uganda: Buwate Sports Academy
Peace One Day Games: Q3 2016
October 31, 2016
Naku Charles Lwanga
Summary of Activities
- Buwate Sports Academy conducted vacation programs, which involved vigorous training in soccer for both boys and girls. This enabled the children to have a relaxed moment during the school vacations.
- The funding from RMF/MTCF enabled Buwate Sports Academy to facilitate and compensate instructors for the vocational department and sports coaches.
- The financial support from RMF/MTCF was used to transport children to sports encounters outside Buwate, such as Wampewo, Kira, and Seeta.
- Financial support from RMF/MTCF enabled the sports academy to purchase and distribute scholastic materials to orphans and vulnerable children.
- During training and sports encounters,* children were served a hot meal*. This was possible because of funding from RMF/MTCF.
- Wages for all Buwate Sports Academy staff were paid in a timely manner.
- The funds from RMF/MTCF enabled Buwate Sports Academy to purchase more balls, uniforms, socks, training jerseys, and other essential items needed for training.
- Buwate Sports Academy has been able to introduce hairdressing and beauty therapy training in addition to the tailoring program that we already offered. These programs are long-term strategies to empower people and fight poverty.

Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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.

Background
& Objectives
Background
In early 2013, RMF, the Mother Teresa Children’s Foundation in Italy (Devoti Madre Terese Per I Bambini) and World Children’s Fund started funding support of the Buwate Sports Academy. Buwate Sports Academy is a sports club and activity group for children living in Buwate village, Kira Town, Kampala District. The Buwate Sports Academy seeks develop the youth advancement component of our humanitarian work through games, sports training, vocational training and other educational opportunities.
Objectives
- Provide funding to assist the operations and growth of Buwate Sports Academy
- Provide funding to allow children from surrounding slums to attend school
- Provide funding for vocational training opportunities including tailoring, hairdressing, and cosmetology
- Increase Buwate’s popularity in hopes that this will attract social services from the government and other development partners

More
Photos
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Numbers
Served
About 2,000 persons benefit from the Buwate Sports Academy project i.e. Buwate, Kireka, Bwyogerere, and Seeta communities.

More Reports on: Buwate Sports Academy Archive
Country Page: Uganda
Initiative Page: Buwate Sports Academy