CIO rolls out inclusive sports academy
Mzuzu-based Citizen Impact Organization (CIO) has launched a sports academy aimed at providing extra-curricula activities for school-going children to empower young people and promote positive behavior change through sport.
The academy will offer structured coaching, sports equipment, and mentorship, while integrating life skills and leadership training for learners. It targets children and young people aged between 9-17, with a focus on keeping them engaged after schools hours and reducing exposure to negative behaviors.
Speaking during the launch on Saturday, North Education Division Sports Desk Officer and guest of honor Sam Nyirenda said the establishment of the academy will give learners productive alternatives beyond classroom learning.
“We are excited as a division because establishing an academy means we are giving out students something else to do apart from attending classes in school. Usually, when they knock-off from school, they engage in activities that are not related to their development. This academy will therefore help develop their talents and create a good future for our children in sports,” Nyirenda said.
Nyirenda said the academy aligns with the division’s strategic plan to strengthen sports development by partnering with organizations that can offer extended training opportunities beyond limited school hours. He hopes the academy will offer other opportunities beyond sports.
“In schools, you may only have an hour for training but now with the academy, talented learners identified in schools can be sent to the academy where they can have enough time for further development, and since CIO is engaged in so many other activities, I am sure they will not only learn about sports, but also acquire other skills necessary for their future livelihoods,” he said.
Nyirenda further advised CIO to prioritize child protection by engaging safeguarding officers to ensure the safety of learners participating in the program.
“We want parents to be confident that their children are growing in a safe environment and are being properly taken care of,” he said.
CIO Executive Director Chimwemwe Banda said the academy has been established following a research conducted through one of their project focusing on menstrual poverty and youth empowerment, which revealed high dropout rates, particularly among girls.
“Our findings showed that after school, many children have nothing constructive to do and they end up engaging in risky behaviors. Through sports, we want to bring boys and girls together, provide Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRHR) talks, career guidance, and promote healthy lifestyles so that learners stay in school,” Banda said.
Banda said the academy will operate across multiple sports disciplines, including football, netball, volleyball, athletics, and Paralympics, targeting learners with and without disabilities.
“This is sports for all. As you have seen, we are in partnership with Orphans for Africa, an organization that promote inclusivity. So, we are working towards inclusivity among young people with and without disabilities, and we believe that we will reach out to more children who are in schools, youth clubs, as well as different communities,” she said.
On safeguarding, Banda said CIO will put strong policies in place and appoint trained safeguarding officers to protect children and raise awareness of their rights.
“Safeguarding is a must because we are handling children between nine and seventeen. We need to ensure we get consent from parents and create awareness among learners on what is acceptable and what violates their rights. We will also have safeguarding officers who understand what is safeguarding and how to safeguard the children.,” Banda said.
“This is because wherever there are children, there are a lot of circumstances, which comes in. A lot of people take advantage of children as they are vulnerable and safeguarding comes in as a help to those children,” she added.
One of the learners, Watipaso Chihana, a Form One student at Luwinga Secondary School, welcomed the initiative, saying it will help nurture their talents.
“We have talents but sometimes we do not have coaches. This academy is promising trained coaches and I believe they will help us develop our skills. Also, the inclusivity aspect will give learners with disabilities confidence that they are capable of doing anything,” Chihana said.
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