Uganda: Kiryandongo Sports Development Program

6 Players Earn School Scholarships: Q1 2019

May 23, 2019

Naku Charles Lwanga

Uganda Initiative Reports

Players and their coaches after a meeting with the sports program manager

Sports Development Program Promotes Wellbeing

Attracting More Participants

RMF has continued to implement our sports development program, which is promoting psychological wellbeing, life skills, and cooperation among the youth. The program has also helped diffuse some of the tension existing between different tribes from South Sudan.

The teams conducted daily trainings in the 4 community fields in Arnold, St. Bakhita, Magamaga, and Cluster K. The fields have aided the daily activity trainings, furthering the success of the project as a whole.

Essential training equipment was purchased, including balls, sports bibs, uniforms, and cleats. This has led to easy identification during training and competitions. It has also attracted more participants to the program and created more confidence in the existing players because they are adequately facilitated.

The children ready for a match with Victoria Primary School in Hoima.

Monthly Trips

Gaining Opportunities

There have been monthly trips to Lira, Gulu, Hoima, and Masindi where the players have gained wider exposure and opportunities for both personal and athletic development.

The teams also made a trip to Kampala, where they were hosted by the Airtel Rising Stars in Gayaza. This was a great opportunity for the players to share their experiences. The trips have greatly benefited the teams by improving their skills and knowledge and improving their areas of weakness.

Five (of the six) boys who received scholarships based on their skills and knowledge of soccer.

School Scholarships Received

Six players under-12

6 players in the under-12 category have earned scholarships from schools such as Victoria Primary School in Hoima as a result of their advanced football (American soccer) skills:

Bol Wach (age 10)
Tap Bijany (age 11)
Chom Gatluak (age 11)
Chan Khan (age 11)
Peter Puok (age 12)
Paul Sudan (age 12)

Mr. Haruna, a FUFA official, demonstrating practical skills to the coaches, who listen attentively

Coaches Have Successful Training

January 29-30, 2019

The coaches participated in a successful training which has helped them improve their coaching skills. The practical training took place at Panyadoli Secondary School’s sports grounds, while the theory session took place at Panyadoli Vocational Training Institute.

The training helped coaches improve their skills both on and off the field. It was led by Mr. Haruna Maawa, the facilitator from the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA), and his assistant Gilbert. The facilitator took the coaches through many levels and techniques of coaching, both in theory and in practice.

The visitors from LDS Charities addressing the participants at St. Bakhita Primary School Playground during one of the friendly matches organized to entertain the visitors

Team Receives Visitors

Players Demonstrate their Talents

The team received visitors from the USA and South Africa, who came to observe the impact and performance of the project on the lives of refugees in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. The players were able to play and demonstrate their talents, which pleased the visitors.

Coaches of the participants

Coaches and Managers Meet

Regular Meetings Move Program Forward

Coaches of the different teams have been meeting throughout the reporting period, which has helped them coordinate training activities. During these meetings, the coaches are able to evaluate their performances, and this has become an important part of moving the program forward.

The team has conducted monthly meetings between the coaches and the project manager to discuss and address matters pertaining to the sports development program as well as plans for the continued smooth operation of the project. These meetings are often held at our field office at Panyadoli Vocational Training Institute and shared by the project manager.

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Increase physical activity
Improve health
Decrease crime and violence within communities
Create greater community cohesion

The divides and challenges from past trauma facing the youth of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement are stark. With few structured activities for youth from both sides of the conflict in South Sudan to interact and a lack of exposure to activities and experiences outside of the camp, conflict between tribal groups within Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement is not uncommon. Bringing children and youth across tribes together to play sports with each other, as opposed to against each other, is an informal entry point that can be an initial bridge to larger societal change.

However, any program design can’t stop by simply addressing the current conflict, but also must speak to the trauma faced by youth before and since arriving in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement. In 60% of the interviews conducted by RMF/PPI, “trauma from past experiences” was mentioned as a major issue facing children and youth today.

In the two primary schools PeacePlayers International (PPI) visited on their trip to Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, there is an average of 1 teacher for every 93 students. In this environment, the Kiryandongo Sports Program has great potential to help its target beneficiaries develop the full range of life skills necessary for successful integration.