The build-up activities began with the Sport in Action 4th Sports for Development Awards 2011 dubbed “Recognising the unsung heroes in Zambia” that attracted over 500 participants from the corporate world, sports fraternity, government, civic society and the youth.
The event was shown live on the Zambian National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) graced by the new Minister of sport, youth, labour and gender. Different athletes and institutions were awarded under the different categories which included:
Outstanding development media awards, Outstanding contribution and achievement in physical education, Outstanding contribution in youth sport, Outstanding contribution and achievement in girls sport, Outstanding contribution and achievement in the use of sport in HIV&AIDS mitigation by an organisation, Outstanding contribution and achievement in sport for children with disabilities, Outstanding contribution and achievement in school sport, Associated printers award for outstanding courage, determination and sportsmanship.
An interesting category that got the young leaders within the Kicking AIDS Out! Zambian organisations to hold their breath with anxiety was that of commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Networks existence. Under this category, Carol Chimbamba of EduSport won under the category of Outstanding contribution and achievement by a female Peer Leader with Annety Mukemba (SCORE Zambia) and Chiko Lumbwe (Sports in Action) being nominated under the same category.
The Outstanding contribution and achievement by a male Peer Leader was awarded to Daniel Ndabala of SCORE Zambia with Bright Lenwe from Sport in Action and Steven Siame being nominated under the same category.
The award that received the most uproar was under the category of Outstanding contribution and achievement by Kicking AIDS Out! Leader for ten years. This was a tightly contested category where Gregory Shikombelo and Annie Namukanga Musonda both from EduSport and Sammy Thaimu from Sport in Action being nominated for this category. The award went to Sammy Thaimu of Sport in Action. Sammy was later on in the week invited to participate in a show on the National broadcaster youth talent and achievement show to share his experiences with Kicking AIDS Out! Reflecting on his journey as a leader.
The biggest award for the night was awarded to Mrs. Matilda Mwaba of NOWSPAR a member of the Kicking AIDS Out! Network for her outstanding contribution in sport for development in Zambia under the chairman’s award. Mrs Matilda received a standing ovation in this glamorous event that was held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
Kicking AIDS Out! Was very visible as the Kicking AIDS Out! Banner was strategically placed so was the awards set under the category of Kicking AIDS Out!
The World AIDS Day event on Friday 1st Dec, 2011 marked the 2nd build-up activity coordinated by NOWSPAR. The World AIDS Day event was organised by the National AIDS Council through the Lusaka District AIDS Force. The event began with a match past from Chainama Hills Hospital to Nkoloma Stadium where all other activities to commemorate this day took place. Close to 5000 people participated in this event with Kicking AIDS Out! Being represented by an amazing 45 young people from the networks membership in Zambia.
An exhibition booth to promote Kicking AIDS Out! Was strategically set as we were recognised throughout the event by the event organisers. Our banners were very visible and our young people were vibrant. During the match past, I overheard a group behind us saying, “let us keep the pace with this young people, they are very entertaining.” Despite the brass band and majorette leading the event, our young people sung and danced to famous childhood hood songs, coining current hit songs to have HIV and AIDS messages. We are glad that our booth was well visited including a visit by Lusaka Province Minister Hon. MP Mr Miles Sampa and his entourage.
The next activity was coordinated by EduSport. On Friday 2nd Dec, 2011 where 5 young people; Frevious Mushindu (intern), Annie Namukanga (EduSport), Samantha Lukonde (NOWSPAR), Philip Kapena (SCORE Zambia) and George Nange from the Kicking AIDS Out!Secretariat attended a one hour radio interview on ZNBC channel 4.
The interview focused on Kicking AIDS Out! Concept, how it was being integrated within the organisations, the Network and its composition. The young people present did justice to the show as they shared their personal experiences with participating in Kicking AIDS Out! And how Kicking AIDS Out! As a concept was being integrated in their programmes. This radio show focused on practitioners.
The next radio presentation will be with Q-FM on Friday 9th Dec, 2011 where all policy makers from the network membership in Zambia shall take part in as well as the Secretariat just a day before the big day on the 10th Dec, 2011 that will begin with a match past from Kalingalinga petrol station to National Sports Development Centre (Nasdec) followed by youth tournament and Kicking AIDS Out! Activities
This week has seen the first Master Trainer Orientation Workshop held at Mulungushi Village with 16 participants partaking in it from Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia.
The training has been done in collaboration with Community Development Resource Association (CDRA) from South Africa, the Zambian Membership and the Kicking AIDS Out! Secretariat. The course has four modules that aims at strengthening the knowledge of the participants by enhancing their facilitation skills, deepening their understanding of practice and working with emergence, familiarising them with the Networks standard operating procedures, principles and governance and management skills development.
The 7 days’ course began on the 4th December and shall end on the 9th Dec, with participants from the course attending the celebrations the following day.
10th December, 2011 will mark the 10th Anniversary celebration since the formation of the Kicking AIDS Out! Network in Zambia, where it all began 10 years ago. A working group was formed in August that consisted of two representatives from EduSport, Sport in Action, SCORE Zambia and National Organisation of Women in Sport (NOWSPAR) to prepare and work on the preparation of the event with each organisation being tasked to coordinate a build-up activity.
The working group has been working under the leadership of the four organisations directors headed by Mr. Michael Mwango EduSport director and Kicking AIDS Out! Intern Mr. Frevious Mushindu from Sports in Action. The working group has been meeting on a weekly basis since its formation forming a trend with Tuesday’s being the meeting dates. On the other hand, the member organisations within Zambia have contributed their resources both human and financial to see the success of this event as well as coordinating build-up activities.
November and December has seen Kicking AIDS Out! And Sports and Development being brought on different platforms, locally and nationally. The culmination of these activities shall be the actual event on 10th Dec, 2011 at Nasdec where prominent people, the community and youth shall partake in so is the Kicking AIDS Out! Network Secretariat.