IWG launches mentorship programme
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday July 13, 2016 15:18
MEMPROW, founded in Uganda, is seen as an ideal programme to guide the mentorship of girls in sport. During the launch, IWG secretary general, Game Mothibi said MEMPROW brings girls and young women aged between 14 and 29 years, across Africa and provide skills and knowledge needed to become successful, confident and self-reliant individuals. “Our programme pairs emerging female sports potential leaders from around the country, identified within rural communities, with senior female sports administrators at leading organisations in the sports sector for a three year mentorship experience from 2015-2018,” she said.
Mothibi said the participants for the programme are selected by the IWG secretariat based on their accomplishments and drive among other qualities to make an even greater impact in the sports sector within their communities. She added that the five girls selected are from challenged backgrounds picked by people with relevant experience in sports.
“IWG secretariat has in consultation with Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) identified a pool of 10 prospective beneficiaries of the secretariat legacy project. Of the selected 10, five will be picked,” said Mothibi.
Meanwhile, BISA president, Joshua Gaotlhobogwe said the names of the participants were selected from 4 regions after consultations. He said the names were then forwarded to IWG secretariat for consideration. Mothibi further said girls have to grow with a sporting mentality and be made to understand that there are many values that come with being a sport person. She said the programme would be concluded when BoFiNeT make a presentation at the IWG 7th World Conference in May 2018 on the impact of the project alongside the beneficiaries. The objective of the legacy project is to strengthen girls and young women in sport’s agency, voice and participation. This is meant to eliminate gender stereotypes, violence and stigma, to encourage an increased participation in sports and to have a lasting footprint for the IWG that builds on the ideas set out in the foundation documents of the Brighton Declaration (1994) to the change driven legacy of the Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration (2014).