Zambia is the eighth poorest country in the world and its sports facilities are drastically limited. Of a population of 11 million, over 1.5 million are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus.
 | | AIDS is a big problem in Zambia |
The challenge of Sport in Action-Zambia is to use sport to help address the HIV/AIDS crisis. There are tens of thousands of Zambians living in poor conditions with very few recreational activities to participate in, other than taking drugs, drinking and sexual activities; factors that continue to increase the problems of HIV/AIDS. Sport is one of the only alternative ways of passing time for the population which has an 80% unemployment rate. Targets of the Zambia Ideals Project Our aim is to continue moving an agenda forward, together with the Wallace group (Durham, Loughborough, Northumbria, Stirling, UWIC and Bath) and UK Sport IDEALS (International development through excellence and leadership in sport), that will in some way help the Zambians to sustain their promotion of sport. The targets are: - To raise money to send sports equipment out to Zambia, which is desperately needed.
- To send to Zambia any team kits that have been discarded by schools, colleges or universities that are no longer needed - it would be gratefully accepted by people who, in the majority of cases, would never have the opportunity of wearing such garments.
- To visit schools in the area and begin to build to correspondence with some Zambian schools.
- To emphasise to the children we teach the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and empower them through sport.
The partnership The partnership of the Wallace Group and Sport in Action allows us to travel to Zambia and promote empowerment through sport.Ìý As student leaders we are required to work with peer leaders from Sport In Action and EduSport to support them in the delivery of sports sessions to young people aged 8-18 years, in schools and community groups in Lusaka, Zambia. We will be coaching football, netball, basketball and volleyball, therefore gaining a huge amount of experience in terms of coaching but will also learn a number of invaluable life skills. Hopes and Fears The Loughborough group is looking forward to experiencing a different culture and way of life in Zambia.
 | | Loughborough students are taking part |
We are very excited about coaching sports that we are passionate about and making a difference to children who live in suffering. Our coaching skills will be improved and tested in a challenging environment, which we all want to strive in. The issues that we are worried about as a group are dealing with children who are in terrible situations and suffering. There is also concern that the message about HIV/AIDS that we are trying to promote to the children may not get across. As a group we have to raise £1,500 each, about £10,000 all together for our trip out there for the 12 weeks. We also have to provide all the children with sufficient sporting kit and equipment. Fundraising Efforts Our fundraising efforts so far have involved setting up a Just Giving Website, which enables people to donate to our cause and then the website provide us with extra money for Tax Payers who donate. The address is: |
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We were involved in an auction at Loughborough Union where we sold a signed England Cricket top and signed Everton Football team photograph, raising £200. As a group we have all written to our local schools, colleges, councils, friends and family. We have sold tea and coffee at the Heart of England Cheerleading Competition, held at Loughborough, raising £300. We have had a competition of 'Guess the teddie's name' raising £85 so far, the person who guesses the teddies name, wins the teddy. Future Events Our other fundraising activities planned are to collect money and sell tea and coffee at the Loughborough Lightening Netball matches, which are televised by Sky Sports, as well as the Volleyball BUSA final event. | "The idea for having 'Give £1 for Zambia Day' is another challenge we hope to undertake, by encouraging all Loughborough students to simply spare £1." | | Amy Green, Ideals Project Volunteer |
We have an Ibiza-themed night organised in a local night club in Loughborough town, as well as collecting money at the 'Hey Ewe' reunion party for Loughborough students being held in London. We are planning a speed dating evening at a local night club between some of the sports teams at Loughborough as well. Some of the individuals in the Loughborough team are running 10K and half marathons as well as walking the five highest peaks in Great Britain to raise money. We are thinking about organising Varsity matches against other universities or maybe 5-a-side football tournaments, netball, volleyball and basketball matches between the Loughborough students, where they have to pay a small fee to compete. We are filling a shopping trolley full of student necessities and making a raffle to win the items. A '100 Club' is being set up in some of the halls that the Loughborough team live in, where students buy a square for £1 and potentially could win back £50. The idea for having 'Give £1 for Zambia Day' is another challenge we hope to undertake, by encouraging all Loughborough students to simply spare £1 for the Zambia Ideals charity. | 
