As we bid farewell to 2023, we at ISA ROWA are eager to share with you the strides we’ve made in empowering youth and fostering social change across our region.
This year has been pivotal for us, focusing on engaging young people in eight targeted communities through our Game and Change program. Our mission was to empower 8 Community Based Organizations (CBOs) over five months (June/July to October/November 2023), aligning our efforts with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our focus areas included health and well-being, combating climate change, ensuring quality education, promoting gender equality, and fostering peace and social cohesion.
To achieve this, we set ambitious goals:
- Increase female participation across various roles to at least 40%.
- Engage about 1,200 young girls and boys in structured sports activities.
- Indirectly impact an additional 3,600 youths.
- Support and train 40 coaches, with 80 more benefiting indirectly.
- Reach out to 2,600 community members to create a positive sports environment.
- Highlight the importance of sports for well-being.
- Boost ISA’s visibility in the communities and with our partners.
And we can proudly say now that we reached all of these goals!
Our journey began with workshops in all eight communities, sharing our vision and facilitating crucial discussions with CBOs about partnership and integrity. This laid the groundwork for the CBOs to develop action plans that resonated with our mission and the community’s needs.
The implementation of these plans has been phenomenal. For example, in the Doumnanzana community in Bamako, the Centre Mamadou Coulibaly (CMC), in collaboration with partners, took significant steps to combat malaria. They conducted awareness campaigns and distributed sanitary kits, impacting over 2,000 people, including children and the elderly.
AS 77’s initiative to involve more community coaches was a highlight. They focused on environmental protection, engaging youth in constructive activities. The coaches shared experiences and solutions to environmental challenges, reinforcing our commitment to holistic youth development.
Furthermore, our efforts for environmental consciousness were evident in the cleanup day organized by AS 7/7 in Faladié, involving 145 youths and coaches. This initiative received widespread community support, emphasizing the importance of such activities.
Nation-Foot’s event on was another milestone. They combined sports with environmental education, engaging over 500 young players in keeping their playing fields clean and raising awareness about environmental preservation.
One of our most heartwarming moments was the closing ceremony organized by CFMA for a needy public kindergarten in SOKORODJI, Bamako. It was a day filled with joy, gifts, and games, impacting 85 children and witnessing substantial community participation.
Additionally, Dojo Tablé’s Open Day was a resounding success, drawing 125 youths and 70 community members. The event celebrated sports’ role in physical and mental well-being and community engagement.
As we step into 2024, we are filled with pride and optimism for the continued journey of empowering youth and driving social change. We are grateful for the support and collaboration of all our partners and look forward to another year of making meaningful impacts.
Wishing you all a wonderful New Year, filled with joy, success, and continued collaboration!
