Donation Information
Right To Play is a registered charity in England and Wales, charity no. 1112404.
Please donate online by following the link above (through Charity Choice) or send a cheque made payable to "Right To Play UK" to:
Right To Play UK39 - 43 Brewer Street,
London,
W1F 9UD
+44 (0) 207 734 7946
The Lions of Chawama Conquer All Odds
By Glenn Shaw
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| Right To Play Coach Jane Sii Sii is the Lioness of Chawama |
The lions of Chawama however, are not the predators of the African plains, but can be found hunting for their next goal, victory or trophy on one of the few dusty football (soccer) pitches found in their neighborhood. These are the Chawama Young Lions Under 14 Boys Football Team, and their trainer and coach, a young Zambian woman by the name of Jane Sii Sii, is the Lioness of Chawama.
Jane and her Lions are fearless and determined to conquer all odds, on and off the field. At the age of eighteen, Jane was trained as a Right To Play Coach, and with the support of Right To Play, over the next two years she acquired valuable coaching skills and gained the confidence required to take a group of twenty-six underprivileged children, and shape them into an outstanding football team, well-know to all their rivals.
| Sport is something these children can’t afford to live without. Coach Jane feels that the time spent on the football pitch keeps these underprivileged kids away from alcohol and drug abuse, stealing, fighting, and of course in Zambia, the ever present danger of HIV/AIDS infection. |
Under Jane’s leadership, the Lions have won two of the last three football tournaments. Determined to give her team more opportunities, Coach Jane single-handedly raised enough funds to transport her team several hundred kilometers to the city of Monze where they not only participated in the Independence Cup Football Tournament, but won five straight games to take the champion’s trophy back to Lusaka.
The road to success was not easy though. Every day remains a challenge for Coach Jane and her 26 young lions. A major problem when she took on the team was that many of the boys would come to practice shoeless, and often hungry. Jane often struggled to find ways to feed or clothe her players, many of which are orphans and can’t afford to attend the local basic primary school. In Chawama, education, medical care, and in fact all basic needs lie under the responsibility of individual citizens, with government agencies offering little assistance or support to anyone unlucky enough to fall short on material need. The orphans often have no one to care for them, and virtually no assistance from the state.
Under these circumstances everyday is difficult for her team, but Jane believes that despite a lack of material necessities, sport is something these children can’t afford to live without. She feels that the time spent on the football pitch keeps these kids away from alcohol and drug abuse, stealing, fighting, and of course in Zambia, the ever present danger of HIV/AIDS infection. “I’ve managed to gather these kids together, to teach these kids about the dangers of AIDS, I feel good about this… I’ve changed some of these kids’ lives.” Jane has also managed to find a way to sponsor several of her player’s school fees and keep a few of them working at an education, a significant input into these children’s lives.
As a female coach in what is usually regarded in Zambia as a male dominated sport, Jane is often the target of intimidation and scorn - the prevailing attitude being that women simply can’t understand football. Jane fell in love with football at age 13 when she began playing in the neighborhood with the local guys. Sadly, as Jane grew older, it became clear that women and sports were not always a welcome mix in Zambia. By the time she had reached her late teens the young Zambian woman’s participation in football had become almost nil.
Fortunately for Jane, her family and her fellow Right To Play Coaches see her for the leader and champion she is, and regularly offer not simply their support, but also their admiration. “It’s not easy to find someone to help you here,” she says, noting the difficulties of life in Chawama. “But Right To Play changed my life, it allowed me to travel a little, meet people, gain knowledge, and helped me to socialize.”
As Jane continues her Right To Play coaching pursuits, options continue to grow, both for her and her young lions. With workshops in project management, proposal writing and fundraising, as well as HIV/AIDS, first aid, health awareness and coaching, Jane is growing ever more resourceful while gaining capacity. Ultimately, Right To Play works to give hundreds of coaches like Jane the skills they will need to ensure the sustainability of the project and a stronger community.
It is clear that with her fellow coaches encouragement, the continued support of Right To Play, and of course Jane’s own tenacity and determination, the Lioness of Chawama and her young cubs will continue to roar for a very long time making the plains of Lusaka’s Chawama a little less perilous.
| Glenn Shaw, Communications Coordinator for Right To Play Zambia, came to Lusaka in August from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Glenn holds a degree in Visual Communications, a diploma in Information Technology, and is currently completing his Master’s Degree in International Development Studies. Glenn also worked in advertising for five years as a Graphic Designer and Art Director, as well as in Japan as an English teacher. |
Click here to learn more about Right To Play Zambia SportHealth project.
