Internet Access, an Award Winning Film, and a Successful Day of Soccer in Zambia

By Hary Mitchell

YOFOSO Reopens Internet Café

After over 13 months of inactivity, Youth for Sport, Restoration, and Rehabilitation (YOFOSO) in Zambia reopened their fully functional internet café at the social centre, complete with four laptops and two desktops. Having a reliable internet source at the centre will help YOFOSO to reduce the costs spent on transportation and internet usage from the other cafes.

Adding to the excitement, friends of YOFOSO have already prepaid for three months of internet service, and YOFOSO has also received two donated laptops. Due to the generosity of their friends, YOFOSO was able to donate two of their own desktops—one to a local soccer team that has managed to build a business centre to raise funds for their team, and the other one to a retired worker who wants to set up a business centre.

Having internet at the centre will help the children at YOFOSO who have been developing computer skills. Four children are currently being trained in website development and management, and it is projected that in a few months they will begin teaching their friends.

One senior youth, Leonard Charles Phiri, has already been trained in video production at a leading local institute and was able to use his skills while working as a camera assistant for the award-winning film “Mwansa the Great.” Leonard is now passing this knowledge to the younger children.

YOFOSO’s Children Featured in Award-Winning Movie

The children from Garden compound in Lusaka, Zambia, are now receiving international recognition from Zambian filmmaker Rungano Nyoni's award-winning film Mwansa the Great. Scheduled for twenty-five different festivals, the film has been traveling the world all this year, making notable stops in Madrid's Cineposible International Festival, the VIS Vienna Independent Shorts, the Tarifa African Film Festival (Spain), Curtocircuito Na Rúa (Spain), and the London International Film Festival.

Nine year old Samuel Mwale has been coming to the centre at YOFOSO since its inception, excelling in drama and traditional drumming. The pinnacle of Samuel's emerging career so far is his starring role as the young Mwansa in “Mwansa the Great”.

Samuel Mwale's acting skills earned him a scholarship, even before he starred in "Mwansa the Great." His school fees are paid for up to grade twelve. This is particularly beneficial to young Samuel and his family, since his father died in in 2006, leaving his mother to care for him and his four sisters.

The soundtrack of “Mwansa the Great” features the traditional drumming of seven to ten of YOFOSO's children. Also, a senior youth at YOFOSO, Leonard Charles Phiri, also worked as the camera assistant for “Mwansa the Great”. Leonard was trained in video production at a leading local institute and is now sharing his knowledge with the younger children at the centre.

Zambians and the community of the YOFOSO social centre eagerly await “Mwansa the Great” to return from its world travels and finally screen in Zambia. The creators of the film are working on exposing the film internationally before returning to Zambia. American film festivals in Austin and Chicago have decided at the last minute to screen the film in October, so there is evidence that is gaining a lot of ground.

Lusaka Tournament a Success

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With the successes of the inaugural Lusaka Tournament, Lusaka and the surrounding compounds experienced firsthand the joining of a profound vision and extensive community collaboration. This monumental youth sports tournament and health awareness event was held the week of August 22nd in the Chiwama compound of Lusaka, Zambia. 56 teams came from 7 compounds of Lusaka to compete in soccer and netball, while learning valuable life lessons in religion and HIV/AIDS safety.

The Garden compound's own Young Gunner's competed valiantly and came within sight of total victory. The under 10 Young Gunners ultimately lost to Mr. C.D Academy of Chaisa Compound in the semifinals, while the under 17 Young Gunners were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Black Boys of the Matero Compound. Although neither of YOFOSO's teams won it all, both the Young Gunners lost to the eventual champions in their age group.

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The overall success and impact of the Lusaka Tournament depended on the strong partnerships created by the organizing committee chaired by Mulenga Cliff", founder of Youth for Sport, Restoration, and Rehabilitation (YOFOSO). Every evening, Campus Crusade for Christ-Zambia taught the Word of God to the visiting teams camped at the community school, Cobete. Grassroots Soccer, a leading NGO dealing with HIV/AIDS issues among the youths in Zambia, educated the youths about safe health practices, gave counseling, and even tested some of the participants for HIV. More than 450 youths graduated from their program at the end of the tournament.

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The Lusaka Tournament was an initiative by the Lusaka Youth Sport Initiative, a network of local coaches from the participating communities. Because of the lack of funds for the tournament, each team had to pay a small participating fee, the highest being K50,000 (about $10 USD) for the under 17 teams.
Alive & Kicking" donated five balls, while Grassroots Soccer" donated three balls and two jerseys. These donations, plus six trophies and six sets of jerseys purchased from the participation fees, served as the prizes.

“We are hoping that this is not the last event we will be holding,” committee chairman Mulenga Cliff says. “It is our sincere hope that we be able to find sponsors for our event, as community teams have an uphill battles to raise funds to participate in the tournament.”

The communities surrounding Lusaka, and the children from the Garden active with YOFOSO, will experience the longterm legacy of the Lusaka Tournament for years to come. The partnerships made within the community are strong, with some pledging to continue support, but there can never be enough guarantees.

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