Aysa Satellite Academies Programme

Context

Zimbabwe is situated in Southern Africa, with a population estimated at over 14,000,000 (World Bank, 2019). Approximately 68% of the population resides in rural areas where the economic situation is very poor (World Bank, 2020). The onset of the COVID–19 pandemic and continued drought caused a contraction in real GDP in 2020 by 10% (AFDB, 2021).  Barriers and preventive measures of COVID-19 like school closures have disproportionally impacted learning in rural areas as only 25% of children was able to continue to engage in learning activities, compared to 70 % in urban areas (World Bank, 2021).

AYSA via this project aims to extend its social development support through sport, academic and life skills education, to disadvantaged rural children.

Goals

• Empower rural youth to be productive members of Zimbabwean society, contributing to the attainment of sustainable economic growth and social development goals
• Help youth evade the poverty trap
• Provide a blend of physical and mental development, nutrition, health support. 
• Place academy graduates: with professional clubs; In higher education institutions; in employment 
• Develop an integrated residential sports training and educational facility

Activities

• Football development through the various stages: as the first intake, the boys and girls will be selected from the local population
• Discovery and Foundation (13-15 years): the satellite will host player trials to identify those with talent and potential to progress up the age-group ladder
• Training sessions 
• Secondary School Tuition: Paying School Fees for children that cannot afford
• Life Skills Support: providing life skills coaching from qualified staff

Targeted Impacts

• The youth enrolled in the program will be trained and equipped with basic material for re-training and career development
• The training activities will promote the spirit of competition and encourage those enrolled in the development program to be self-challenging, thereby building strong personalities
• Bringing young people will foster friendship ties and encourage integration
• The health and well being of young people will be improved
• Young people will have a chance to play competitively
• The participants will have a sense of responsibility and will respect the notion of “Common Good” wich is a prerequisite for future nation builders
• Young people taking part in the program will learn the principles of self-reliant development and contribute to national development
• The spirit of social cohesion amongst young people will be reinforced
• Poverty, unemployment, drug abuse, and teenage pregnancy will be reduced in the community

Photo credit: AYSA