YDF in Zambia: How to use football to develop health and hygiene skills
The Republic of Zambia gained its independence from the United
Kingdom in 1964 and has been a multiparty democracy since 1991. The
country, with its capital Lusaka, is landlocked in the southern part of
Africa. It is home to 11.5 million people from more than 70 ethnic
groups and its official language is English. Zambia is among the world's
least developed countries and faces steep challenges from poverty and
AIDS. In 2007 some 14 per cent of women and men between the ages of 15
and 50 tested positive for HIV. Although Zambia is a country with
sufficient water, the quality of both its surface and ground water is
decreasing owing to industrial and agricultural pollutants, extensive
mining activities, but also to a lack of latrines. Only 59 per cent of
households have access to safe water. Water- and sanitation-related
diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea are therefore the cause of major
health problems in Zambia; malaria takes its toll on the population with
nearly four million clinical cases and 50,000 deaths per year.
Simple measures - significant achievements
Since simple, low-cost health and hygiene-related interventions can
prevent water-borne diseases and have a huge positive impact -
particularly on the lives of children - YDF has, since its introduction
to Zambia in 2009, focused on developing water- and sanitation-related
health and hygiene skills among the youth. The Zambian YDF programme
builds on existing initiatives and structures which are already
successfully working in the field of water supply and sanitation, and in
youth development through football. It is implemented by the GIZ
Water-Sector Reform Programme and its water-sector partner institutions -
the National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO), the
Devolution Trust Fund (DTF) and the Water and Sanitation Alliance of
Zambia (WASAZA) - in cooperation with YDF South Africa. Water and
sanitation projects of the Devolution Trust Fund in four different
regions throughout Zambia serve as entry points. In addition, the YDF
programme in Zambia works together with the EduSport Foundation and the
Breakthrough Sports Academy (BSA). EduSport is a non-governmental and
non-profit organisation that was established in 1999 and that emphasises
education through sport. The BSA is a community sports programme aimed
at providing sports opportunities to young Zambians between 4 and 20
years of age.
Developing youth through football
In a country where football has been the most popular sport ever
since the national football team defeated Italy in the Seoul Olympics of
1988, football events and training are used to raise awareness about
safe water and hygiene and to educate young people. HIV and AIDS
prevention and gender are further issues that are addressed.
Mixed-gender football teams have been formed and are trained by sports
partners in each of the four Devolution Trust Fund project areas. Girls
who actively participate in the football training and tournaments are
supported to become peer educators and adopt leadership roles at
community and district level. A sanitation league has been created to
encourage sports competitions. Besides regular training,
football-for-development tournaments and other events are used for
educational, motivational and promotional purposes and to attract
further community members.
When sports trainers become peer educators
In cooperation with YDF South Africa, the programme in Zambia is
currently developing a toolkit for water- and sanitation-related health
and hygiene education aimed at strengthening existing sporting
initiatives. The toolkit comprises an event module, an instructor's
manual and a manual for coaches. These 'tools' serve to train sports
trainers based on a curriculum that uses football training and sporting
events to address issues of concern and relevance to the youth and that
aims to change the behaviour of young people. Sports partners,
predominantly from civil society, learn how to use the toolkit to
empower communities through active participation in sport and at the
same time contribute their own experiences. Football coaches and players
are well trained on water- and sanitation-related health and hygiene
issues and on HIV and AIDS prevention. Equipped with leadership and life
skills, they are empowered to act as peer educators and to train and
positively influence girls and boys to make informed decisions on issues
that affect their lives. The implementation of the programme is closely
monitored. The approach is documented and standardised in order to make
it accessible as a tried-and-tested tool for further initiatives in
Zambia and other YDF partner countries.
Partnership and networking as a key to successful implementation
Strong partnerships between sports education organisations and
organisations working in the field of water and sanitation are
facilitated within the programme. A communication and information
platform will be developed to enhance the exchange of knowledge and
experience among non-governmental organisations and governmental
sporting institutions. YDF Zambia celebrated World Water Day 2010 with a
health and hygiene tournament together with its partner institutions
and teams from the Devolution Trust Fund project areas. A national
Sanitation Challenge Football Cup highlighted the official YDF World Cup
campaign.
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