Developing Children Through Sport
This project's parent organization is The King's Foundation Botswana
It operates in Botswana
It uses Multiple sports
Entered the Sport for Education Award
More about Developing Children Through Sport
Batswana young people live in communities with arguably the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world. The family structure has been torn apart leaving seemingly hopeless situations. Children are raised by older siblings and rarely taught foundational values essential for any responsible / valued member of society. Teenage pregnancy is very common, and drug and alcohol abuse is a big problem. Such things become common place when there is a lack of parental involvement and few activities to occupy youth.
Our sports programmes serve as a HIV/AIDS preventative programme in that they keep children/youth busy during times that they are bored. Our programmes focus on after school, weekends and school holiday times because these are times children have little to do and easily preoccupy themselves with drugs, alcohol and sexual activity. Without sports activities children find themselves contributing to the challenges they (Botswana) already find themselves entrenched in. Our programmes foster teamwork and develop self esteem in children. Raising up young women who are self confident would be a great accomplishment for The King’s Foundation. With increased self esteem from our programmes we hope young girls will have the confidence to say "no" to men interested in sex and make wise decisions for themselves.
Our programs instil discipline and commitment. Under the guidance of King’s Foundation coaches boys learn how to work as a team on and off the sports field. They also have positive male role models who care about them enough to correct them when they misbehave.