Project Launch: 12-24-13

Sport and play, according to the UN are "human rights that must be respected and enforced worldwide." Sport can be one strategy in the effort to achieving Millennium Development Goals as sports promote physical fitness, mental health, and teamwork. In the community of Bumba, Rwanda, at the G.S. Bumba high school, there are no health education or sports programs and no teachers are trained in health education. Rwanda struggles with significant health and development challenges: the country is among the top 25 most underweight nations in the world and western Rwanda ranks lowest in levels of HIV prevention awareness. In Bumba, the terrain is mountainous and student activities are limited. This project will build a sport court to facilitate increased physical activity to promote better fitness, as well as to promote the development of league sports in an effort to facilitate the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and collaboration. In addition, teachers will be trained as health leaders to substantially increase and improve the dissemination of essential health information.

 

Project Update

The sports court has been built and the healthy living teacher training workshop has been completed and went very well, according to the local Peace Corps Volunteer. Training topics covered included HIV/AIDS prevention, nutrition, exercise 101, and leadership/sportsmanship. A local organization, Ubumwe Basketball, conducted a coaches and basketball training for the teachers.

 

Testimonials

"Since the completion of the sports court, we have had a countless number of boys and girls using the area for basketball and volleyball on a daily basis. After the court construction finished, I thought it would take some time and involve jumping through some hoops with the management of the school to begin having the students use the sports court. I walked to school after classes had finished the day after the court was officially' completed, and to my extremely joyous surprise, I found roughly fifty students already enjoying the area, playing both basketball and volleyball together in a surprisingly harmonious manner, considering the courts are shared and it's difficult to play both sports at the same time. Girls were playing with boys. Organized games were taking place. It was by far the most gratifying day of my service since arriving in country 18 months ago." – Casey, Peace Corps Volunteer
"The sports court is important because it creates relationships and friendships among the students from everywhere." – Rachid, Project Beneficiary
"Healthy living is important because when you are healthy, you have more chances to achieve your goals. The workshop contributed a lot by teaching us how to deal with our lives. In regards to the court, its obvious role is that it provides a sports area. It also helps prevent some risky activities among the students now that they have a better outlet." – Seth, Project Beneficiary