Coaches and physical education teachers from Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda recently took part in several innovative Game On! Youth Sports instruction clinics.

 

Clinics were held between May 20^th and June 4^th and were made possible the International Alliance For Youth Sports (IAYS).

 

IAYS recent efforts in these countries hopes to be just the beginning of expansion for Game On! in Eastern Africa.  

 

Each country held a three-day workshop for their local educators, coaches and youth sports organizations which focused on how to incorporate life skills into their sports and physical education curriculum.

 

“It was amazing to see the dedication and knowledge of the participants in these workshops,” said Kate Cowan, director of international development for IAYS. “I feel that with the Game On! program and the support of these governments, these trained individuals will have the power and knowledge to return to their communities and make a positive difference in many children’s lives.”

 

Cowan traveled all the way from IAYS headquarters in the United States to attend the trainings, and was extremely impressed with each country’s strong level of commitment to the program.

 

“It is great to see the governments of Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda supporting such an important initiative,” said Cowan. “This will ensure that the children in their countries are given the opportunity to play sports and develop life skills.”

 

An experienced Game On! Youth Sports team from Zambia lead the trainings along with Cowan.

 

The Supreme Council of Sports in Africa attended each clinic and helped facilitate the trainings to ensure that every child in the respective countries have the chance to play sports and gain the life skills that sports can offer.

 

The Ministries of Sports and Education in each country were all extremely supportive of the clinics and of the prospective future for the Game On! program in each of their countries.

 

The Ugandan minister of state for education and sports, Charles Bakkabulindi, spoke with praise for Game On! and IAYS at the first day of the training session in Uganda.

 

“Sports and play among youth are vital fundamental in shaping the health, anatomical and mental fitness, attitudes and moral character of the growing individual. Therefore the Government of Uganda cherishes and wishes to give every opportunity to our children to acquire these values in their early ages. It is because of this that the Game On! program is a very important and complementary activity for us as the government in Uganda.”

 

The success of each of the training sessions has been met with much positive feedback by local citizens and governments.

 

Clement Chileshe, the IAYS African representative has watched with excitement as Game On! continues to spread throughout the continent.

 

“We have just finished and officially launched the Kenya Game On! and it was a great success with great support from the government,” said Chileshe “The commissioner has already offered funding to the program for the next five months to support the spread of Game On! into the rural area of Kenya.”

 

The training enforced methods of teaching and instruction, but also informed attendees of ways to raise money and involve the entire community in improving their local youth sports.

 

“Participants learnt how to run the Game On! program and to get sponsorship for sports activities and to make a collaboration with other organizations involved in population development, especially youth,” said Jean de Dieu Nizeyimana, coordinator of Game On! Rwanda. 

 

Educating teachers and coaches is just the first step of the program. Now, those who attended the training sessions are fully prepared for the lofty responsibility of instructing youngsters in youth sports.

 

 

“We are extremely excited about the outcomes of these workshops,” said Cowan, “that Game On! is taking an official step in better developing the children in these three countries.”