MATHARE YOUTH SPORTS ASSOCIATION (MYSA)

By Henry MajaleMYSA Academy

Sport for Development and Crime Prevention

How does Sport contribute to Positive Youth Development?

Through creation of employment as professional sportsmen.

Inculcating values of teamwork, fairness, hard work and responsibility for positive

community well being.

It gives Youth the opportunity to discover their talents, abilities and

realizing their potential.

Sports can be linked to other key development areas in society like education, health and

environment. This helps the youth develop awareness of key societal issues early in life.

Sports leads to Discipline and focus in an individual life

Sport contributes to advancing youth development in many ways:

 Does Sports contribute to social inclusion for young people?

In MYSA teams are formed on the basis of neighborhood, proximity to each other’s

house, school etc and never on the basis of tribe, religion or others

Sports leads to reconciliation and peace, by inclusion of all persons irrespective of

ethnicity or race or gender .

Sports fights discrimination especially for the disabled groups

What is the role sport can play in crime prevention essentially?

Sports can be used to nurture community values, like

Respect for elders

Rules

Responsibility

Morality,

Teamwork,

Respect and fairness which are essential in molding holistic athletes and citizens

Teaches social skills to the young girls and boys and influences them positively.

Sport reduces idleness among the youth and helps in developing whole citizens

and athletes who discover their roles in the society.

Sport creates employment in diverse ways. These values are the foundation in

preventing crime at later stage

What is the role youth themselves play in crime prevention?

The youth play a key part in crime prevention and as they are the most vulnerable to

crime. Their role is based on: -

Discovering positive programs they can do for their community.

Serving their own communities as youth leaders and role models ensures they

keep away from crime.

Youths learn from other youths through peer education and role models

The desire to be part of an organized group like MYSA encourages the youth to

keep away from crime.

What is the role girls/women play in crime prevention?

As girls/women are the most vulnerable when it comes to crime.

-Taking up leadership roles as elected members of youth committees where they play

a role in decision making.

-Mentorship of young girls and women, increases the confidence of girls an

understanding their rights.

-Having places to go and report cases of abuse and other crimes they see around

with confidence and no fear of retribution. E.g. sms reporting.

--Creation of forums to discuss girls/women issues and coming up with solutions

Can sport be used as a preventive tool for crime or is crime prevention a by product of sport for development youth programmes?

Crime prevention is more a by product of sports for development rather than a tool for

crime prevention in MYSA. MYSA has no direct interventions targeting crime but we

do fight crime using the activities: -

Around 20,000 young people participating in weekly activities keeps them busy and

engaged reducing chances of committing crime.

Peer to peer counseling , sms counseling, help desk

Leadership roles as elected council members, coaches, referees and other team

leaders.

Leadership awards to 500 awardees every year keeps them in school

Community libraries encourages a culture of reading and setting positive goals for

the future.

Participation in youth exchange programs either abroad or locally e.g Norway cup,

East Africa cup where besides participating in sports they also learn in workshops.

MYSA value systems

Asante Sana

Thanks you