OPULENCE DONATES SPORTS EQUIPMENT TO YOUTH IN DOWA

By Tamala Kamanga – Mana

Opulence Malawi under Rural Community Self-Financed project (RUCOS Sports) on Saturday donated sports equipment to ten villages in Traditional Authority Chakhaza in Dowa district with a call for the youth to refrain from immoral behaviors.

The equipment includes 40 balls for netball, football, volleyball, kids balls, goal nets, goal poles, referee and assistant referees uniform, whistles amongst other items.

Speaking with Malawi News Agency after the donation, Opulence Malawi Administrator Rabecca Mpezeni said, they decided to make the intervention as one way of responding to some of the challenges the youth from the area are facing.

“RUCOS is a sports project aimed at promoting social development and local leadership for youths in communities. Recently we received concerning reports from chiefs from within this area that many youths have been engaging in immoral behaviors because they have nothing to keep them busy.

“So, this initiative comes to prevent young people from staying idle and keep their minds off detrimental thoughts. One way to do that is to arouse their interest in sports,” she said.

Mpezeni said they will be following up on the young people from the area who will be doing well in the sports and try to expose and link them to other opportunities.

She added that they will also bring role models to the communities saying this is also one area the youth are lacking.

Veteran Africa netballer star Mary Waya, who is currently the Deputy Director of Sports, responsible for school development commended the initiative saying this will help develop talent for clubs and national teams.

“We have seen on several occasions that if you can nature talent within the villages, you can produce outstanding athletes in various sports disciplines.

“So, this is a very welcome development because not only because of the sports equipment, but for the long way it will go in motivating the youth,” she said.

Waya urged other organizations to emulate the development saying the youth are crucial in Malawi’s vision 2063, and as such need to be developed mentally, physically, and academically.

Dowa Chief Education Officer Batson Kangulu also commended the initiative saying it will help change behaviors of the youth in the district and enrich their thinking capacity.

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