Duke of Edinburgh bronze award participants are on their way to becoming #WorldReady

Awards Leaders Trained
Participants Inducted
Our Bronze Award Participants Are On Their Way To Becoming #WorldReady!

Sport In Action and Duke of Edinburgh Zambia launched their first cohort on their way to becoming #WorldReady today as they inducted and officially kickstarted 45 participants journeys to achieving their bronze award. Project Manager Jack Preston, was the broker of this partnership and it’s architecture, along with ambassador of the Volunteer Zambia Foundation and Sport in Action Mel Marshall MBE who funded this project.

Following an illustrious swimming career, the double Olympian and six-time Commonwealth Games Medalist Melkhas dedicated her post-swimming life to inspiring and coaching the next generation. Mel is now the National Lead Coach at the British Swimming Centre in Loughborough and personal coach to World Record Holder and Triple Olympic Champion Adam Peaty.

This project came about due to shared values across both organisations with regards to education taking place outside of the classroom, being active is key to a child’s development and promotion of self learning experiences. These shared goals made the partnership a great fit, with Duke of Edinburgh providing a more official learning element and sport in action providing more embedded and sustainable active lifestyle and sporting facilitation.

The launch was a great success with all participants from the three sites attending along with some of their parents who also wished to learn more about the opportunity, spending time with Violet and Joan to discuss the benefits to their children. Coming from Kaunda Square, Matero and Kabwata these participants all came together to collectively embark on their journey.

The year one pilot for this project, the 45 participants and the 12 trained awards leaders have all been enabled this opportunity through the fundraising campaigns of Mel Marshall. With District Coordinator Joan Nkhoma showing thanks on behalf of Sport in Action, and highlighting how the fundraising she’s doing is an essential part to the bigger picture of the organisations impact on young women and girls.

Jack Preston says “the project partnership provides an enhanced learning and sporting experience for any involved participants and leaders. Improving their chances for future employment, and preparing them for opportunities that will come their way. With this being a year one pilot we hope to evidence the power of a combined sport and educational offering before scaling it to wider Zambia”

Duke of Edinburgh’s award has physical activity as a key component in order to pass the award, and they feel that partnering with Sport in Action, and utilising the Hub-Sites provides a more embedded and sustainable sporting offering within their programme.

Equally Sport in Action is delighted to partner with DofE due to the credibility of the education provision they offer! Collectively their is a shared belief this partnership will be a long and fruitful one with the youth benefitting greatly from this opportunity.

The Bronze Award takes 6 months to complete and we wish our participants and their awards leaders the very best as they begin this journey!

Find out more about this project here.