Uganda

Uganda: Kiryandongo Sports Development Program

StarTimes Interview Brings Publicity to Team: Q4 2018

February 20, 2019

Naku Charles Lwanga

Summary of Activities

The Kiryandongo Sports Development Program has helped players cope with trauma. Prior to their involvement in the program, some of these youth had lost hope or even become involved in delinquent activities; however, now parents comment on the positive changes in their children’s characters and urge for the continuation of the project.
The Sports Development Program team had the opportunity to participate in the ECO Communal Agricultural Project, where they were taught how to use farming skills and agricultural knowledge to improve their standards of living.
The Sports Development Program was excited to host Ms. Kathryn and Mr. Tim from the World Children’s Fund (WCF). This visit may positively impact the project by increasing funding, which will allow this young program to grow and improve.
The team was included in a Startimes television program that will be airing across the country. This will help bring more publicity to the team, which may attract donations, grants, and other benefits.
The team has participated in daily trainings in the communal fields, which have helped improve their athletic abilities.
The team also hosted a total of 3 teams from other districts and 4 teams from the host community. This has helped promote peace and create more interaction between communities.
The lives of the coaches have been improved as a result of their monthly salaries and allowances which have empowered them economically.
The delivery of materials such as balls and uniforms has helped the Sports Development Program run trainings effectively and also improved the confidence of the players.
The team successfully participated in the inter-settlement match that saw all the teams to the final.
The project has maintained its commitment to building peace among the players and between different tribes and communities in the settlement.
Conducted monthly meetings at all levels, as well as daily monitoring and evaluation of Sports Development Program staff.
Held a successful end-of-year party where the community, players, and coaches came together as one to celebrate peace.
The teams participated in an international drawing competition by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which gave them a chance to showcase their talents outside of athletics, improving their confidence.

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Background & Objectives
Numbers Served
Success Stories
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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Sports Development Program

Training Provided for Coaches

The Sports Program successfully implemented a one-day training for coaches, led by Mr. Asuman Lubega of FUFA House. For example, he taught coaches how to play in a small area successfully, how to be both a leader and friend to the players, as well as helping their players reach greater heights athletically.

StarTimes Television

Positively Impacting the Program

The Sports Development Program welcomes a team from StarTimes Television, one of the leading supporters of sports and sports talent development in Uganda. The team was included in a Startimes television program that will be airing across the country. This will help bring more publicity to the team, which may attract donations, grants, and other benefits.

2 Dialogue Sessions Held

Discussing Views and Sharing Needs

Two dialogues were held, involving the players, coaches, managers, and community leaders. By discussing key problems such as indiscipline cases and misunderstandings between players or staff, the dialogues helped create peace within the program. The dialogues also gave players a chance to express their views and share their needs.

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Background

& Objectives

Background

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.