The Project
Volunteer to Teach Sport to Children in Zambia, Africa

The Rural Outreach Programme for Education and Sport (ROPES) is an initiative by Beyond Sport Inc. – a Zambian-based, non-profit sports organisation. ROPES main focus is on life skills education, which is integrated with health, HIV/AIDS and sexual education to young people in rural communities. The ROPES concept uses sport and recreational activities to engage children and young people, particularly girls, to participate in sports and physical activities that integrate health and life skills education.

The programme benefits young people by:

• Building community cohesion
• Providing training in life skills
• Reducing criminal activities
• Being easily implemented in a community within a few weeks
• Promoting healthy lifestyles and improving quality of life for communities
• Increasing the performance and participation of children
• Increasing opportunities for children and young people to play sports
• Contributing to the reduction in the number of HIV/AIDS infections among the youth at a local level.

Zambia is one of the poorest nations on earth. With one in five people infected, it is also one of the countries most seriously affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and the youth are the most vulnerable of all. The prevalence of other sexually transmitted infections, low condom use, multiple sexual relationships, cultural practices, gender inequality and poverty have all contributed to the increasing numbers of people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Beyond Sport Inc., works with the urban and rural communities of Monze to ensure that the Life Skills Programme is spread, replicated and integrated with sports activity. Sport and physical activity provide young people with physical, social and mental benefits, thereby improving productivity and social well-being. In addition to its direct benefits, sport is also used as a communication vehicle to promote healthy lifestyles and to prevent harmful habits such as tobacco and drug use. In many countries around the world, and Zambia in particular, sport is being used to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and to target vulnerable groups such as orphans and out-of-school youths. Sport can tackle factors that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS by providing knowledge, life skills, access to services, and safe and supportive environments.

Beyond Sport Inc., 'GOAL Against HIV/AIDS' is the concept for the Community Games tournament. This is a week-long tournament of football, netball and HIV/AIDS activities, designed to sensitise and educate local children on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Thus Beyond Sport Inc. use sport as a school for health and social issues, and teaches children life lessons such as the value of fair play, cooperation, teamwork, respect for self and others, and positive behaviour.