The organisation and structure of community hub sites has given rise to the development of several social enterprise initiatives that help to empower young Zambians by providing opportunities for them to learn and cultivate new lifelong skills, establish new businesses, and generate income for their families and community.
Where it all began?
Jessica Kaluwe, is from Lusaka, Zambia, where she is a resident of a community named Matero. The bustling community of Matero is located in the shadow of Zambia’s National Heroes Stadium, and is home to around 57,000 residents. It is known as a city within the city, and has been since the community was constructed back in 1952. Matero has been and remains a busy community that continues to grow and expand, with many smaller communities emerging from its reach.
In 2018 Jessica reached out to Wallace Group Project Manager, and Sport In Action Sport Development Manager, Jack Preston, expressing her passion for Netball, highlighting the passion for sport and self-help in her community. Only 2 months after being sent the Hub-Site toolkit, Jessica had created and nurtured a fully-fledged hub-site engaging over 150 girls from her community in netball and life-skills initiatives. This has now grown to over 450 young girls from her community alone.
More than sport
With its ability to engage such high capacities of participants, leaders and supporters, sport is undeniably a powerful vehicle for change across the community hub sites.
Having engaged over 450 young girls from her community in netball, Jessica went on to introduce them to her second passion – craftsmanship – teaching the girls how to create and make small items for themselves to generate some income to support their families, keep them out of vulnerable or dangerous situations and to raise funds to go back to school.
They utilise anything they can, making door mats from woollen jumper materials, to jewellery from scrap items they find. The children have even learnt how to make and craft netball dresses for their games and tournaments.
Award winning
Following the success of the enterprise programme, Jessica and the young girls from Matero entered an entrepreneurial competition led by Junior Achievement Zambia, courtesy of the partnership with Sport in Action. The competition saw 10 young girls educated on the creation and process of how to run their own small businesses. It also saw Matero take away the national prize for Zambia as the best community led business idea
Where we are now
Matero continues to thrive and has hundereds of young girls engaged in the programme led by Jessica and Sport In Action. The craft initiative, has gained further traction and has now spread to other communities across the capital city, Lusaka. Originally a Hub Site Coordinator at Matero, Jessica has progressed in her current role as Sport in Action’s Enterprise Coordinator, leading change across other Hub Sites in Lusaka and beyond. Now at regular sporting tournaments you see girls being taught valuable life lessons, giving those who can’t go to school an opportunity to learn.
Celebrating the success of Sport In Action Enterprise Officer Jessica Kaluwe
Next up in our sporting storytelling series prior to this year’s #NWC2023 is Sport In Action’s Enterprise Coordinator, Jessica Kaluwe. Jessica is a prime example of a sporting leader who has used the power of sport for helping others achieve their skills. In her role as Enterprise Coordinator Jessica has continued to inspire others, leading…