01 Apr 2014

A two-day training workshop was recently held to sensitise volunteers’ supervisors for the African Youth Games on safe sport at the games and the roles they would play to deliver safe competitions. 

The workshop held at the Institute of Health sciences in Gaborone covered issues such as understanding the reality of abuse, recognising harassment in sport, understanding anti-doping role violation, values and ethics of volunteerism as well as the roles and responsibilities of volunteer team leaders and their functional areas.

In an interview, the SVM national executive committee (NEC) secretary general, Curdely Mokwati said, “The volunteers’ supervisors also learnt the content and process to train and motivate volunteers’ teams in their respective regions.”

Mokwati said all SVM regions were represented by their regional committee members, which was a clear indication that the games were for all Batswana.

Regions that attended, he said, included Selebi Phikwe, Gaborone, Francistown, Maun, Serowe, Tsabong, Molepolole and Lobatse and their caption areas.

For her part, the Sport Development senior officer in the Special Projects unit, Malebo Raditladi said that she was happy about the workshop’s outcome. 

She said Regional Committee volunteers also showed commitment to volunteerism as they found time to attend the workshop and also sponsored their own transport and accommodation to attend the supervisors’ workshop. 

Raditladi also stressed that volunteers are the heart of the games and their commitment and pride to raise the country’s flag high has an impact on the success of the games. 

She called on volunteers to carry the same spirit and share it with the rest of the volunteers in their respective region.

The Selebi Phikwe SVM committee chairperson, Omphemetse Makwape said the workshop has encouraged and motivated volunteers and given them the scope of what to expect during the games.

He said the training also instilled a sense of patriotism and selflessness to serve the nation as far as sport development is concerned in the country.   

The 2nd African Youth Games are scheduled for Gaborone from May 22-31 this year. Ends