NOXOLO MIYA
Johannesburg - Last night, the SABC’s Radio Park served as a playing ground for the victory for sports development on the continent, with 138 grassroots organisations from 13 countries in attendance.
The players, the Sport for Social Change Network Africa, in partnership with the Leading Like Mandela organisation, hosted a riveting inaugural SSCN Africa Awards 2022.
This game-changing event gave recognition and prestige to individuals and organisations using sport to drive social impact programmes within their immediate communities.
Network director for SSCN Africa Allan Williams said: "We are incredibly proud of the outcome of the evening. (It is wonderful) to be able to recognise African organisations that have demonstrated excellence in using sports, physical activity, or physical education to contribute to development and peace on the continent. These individuals and organisations contribute immensely towards the goals of Agenda 2063, which is the African Union’s strategic framework for inclusive and sustainable development, as well as the UN’s sustainable development goals."
Some 14 deserving winners from across the African continent were presented with various awards in categories that included health and well-being, economic empowerment, inclusion, safe sport, and the special SSCN Leading Like Mandela Champion Award.
This sought-after accolade, which recognises a high-profile individual and influencer who has contributed to the promotion of sport for peace and development movement in Africa, was conferred on Charles Nyambe from Namibia.
Nyambe currently serves as the regional president and managing director of Special Olympics Africa. His passion for sports development in Africa saw him receive the 2021 Lifetime National Award, the highest honour that can be bestowed on an individual contributing to sports development in the country, from the Namibian Sports Commission.
"This award ensures that people with disabilities receive the resources, day-to-day requirements, and activities they need. We put what they need first, not what we desire. We ask them and listen very carefully to what they want, and then we implement," said Nyambe.
The winners of SSCN Africa Awards in 2022 were: Good Health and Wellbeing Award for Waves for Change (Muizenberg, Cape Town); Safe Sport Award for School of Hardknocks (Woodstock, Cape Town); Gender Equality Award for United Through Sport (UTS) (Newton Park, Gqeberha); Quality Education Award for Altus Sport (Silver Lakes Golf Estate, Pretoria); Environment Award for I am Water (Muizenberg, Cape Town); Inclusion Award for Bacop (Mukono, Uganda); Social Cohesion Award for Youth Sport Uganda (Kampala, Uganda); and Economic Empowerment Award for Special Education Professionals (Nairobi, Kenya).
Regional awards from different organisations in Africa were also given to various organisations – namely, Tibu, Africa, from the northern region; Esperance, from the eastern region; Whizz Kids Uganda, from the western region; Grootbos Foundation, from the southern region; and Mailaka, from the central region.
"We will continue to ensure that the magnitude of the work that these organisations (do) only grows from here. We are confident that new partnerships were built with the aim of continuing to try and improve the quality of life for many disadvantaged individuals throughout Africa," added Williams.
The Star