ALIVE AND KICKING & ARSENAL JOIN FORCES TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH

March 15, 2019

Beyond Sport Global Award winning organization, Alive and Kicking, has partnered with Arsenal Community, the Premier League Charitable Fund and 16 local sport for good organisations in Zambia on a pilot mental health programme. The curriculum is now being delivered in the capital city of Lusaka with the support of local sports coaches, mental health experts and Arsenal coaches.

With buy-in from the local community, the partners have created an effective sports-based education curriculum that focuses on understanding mental health and stigma, identifying signs of poor mental health and strategies for seeking support and improving emotional wellbeing.

Having operated in Zambia for more than ten years, Alive and Kicking has been been able to rely on existing networks across the country including schools, NGOs and sports and community organisations.

In assessing the needs of the community, the sport for development non-profit undertook a period of consultation to find out how it could strengthen the impact of its education programmes. Feedback from partner organisations, local youth leaders and their project beneficiaries showed that there was a clear need for mental health education. This need is supported by the research conducted by PRIME (Programme for Improving Mental Health Care) that shows awareness of mental health is key to providing quality mental health support programmes in low resource settings.

After only a few months, initial impact results show increased knowledge on basic mental health issues. The number of coaches that now know where to seek support with their mental health has increased from 35% to 100% in the initial programme.

Coach Naomi from the town of Bauleni said, "the programme has really changed the mindset of our children. I have seen the lives of those who have poor mental health respected and supported by our players. I personally really appreciate this programme and look forward to the impact continuing.”

Alive and Kicking are the Official Winners of the 2017 Sport for Quality Education and Employment Award. Learn more about the annual Beyond Sport Global Awards.