Education is a major challenge in the rural areas, some challenges are caused by some parents who dissuade their children and encourage them to go to work at an early age without knowing the future challenges lying ahead of them.
Recognizing the importance of education YPM prepared an education concert on May 31, which took place in the Mlola ward. The main message of the day has been “Let me go to School, Education is my Redemption”. The Arts Group sent the message to the community through the arts and entertainment.
The Aim of doing the event has been to have an entertaining but direct way of sending the message to the parents and students in the area that is highly affected in the whole of Tanga region.
YPM plans to continuing with these events every in five other places faced with same challenge so as to help the community understand and appreciate the importance of education for the development of the family, community and nation at large.
On 28th April YPM participated in the official launching of the Usambara League. The event was held in Soni and was organized by the Sports council of Lushoto district in coordination with the three parliamentarians found in Lushoto (Lushoto, Mlalo and Bumbuli constitutents). The event was launched by the District commissioner of Lushoto.
The competition will involve teams from 8 divisions (Tarafa) in Lushoto district that will be the winners from the ward competitions. The intention of the league despite bringing youths together it will mobilize them to see on how they can make use of the splendid rich environment for tourism as a way to fight poverty. On the other hand keeping the environment will assure more chances to have future opportunities for tourism which in return it provides employment to involved communities.
The participation of YPM is in course of their mission and vision of fighting poverty through involving youth in economic justice. YPM has been presented in the inauguration by the YPM football team of under 20. The team emerged the winners in the day bonanza.
YPM was part of the few sponsors, working closely to the Lushoto and Bumbuli Councils. The events of the day included the half marathon, 5Km competitions and children competitions, there were also volleyball for under 14 and 6 football teams to color the event. The joy has been that YPM won 1-0 against the Mgwashi team from the Bumbuli constituent.
On 13 February arts group (Tensing) have begun recording shorter pieces of film that will illustrate the challenges young people faced in the fight against poverty and disease.
This group is under the Youth Peace Makers organization a number of ten member’s four girls and six boys, this group works to educate the community through theater and perform well in various national and international activities.
Prospects for the film RECORDING plans intends to educate communities on how young people can avoid the poverty, disease and self-employment.
Pieces of films shown at the Youth Peacemakers YouTube channel every Friday and the official date which will form the clip will be announced through our social networks
On 13 February arts group (Tensing) have begun Recording shorter pieces of film that will illustrate the challenges young people faced in the fight against poverty and disease.
This group is under the Youth Peace Makers organization a number of ten member’s four girls and six boys, this group works to educate the community through theater and perform well in various national and international activities.
Prospects for the film RECORDING plans intends to educate communities on how young people can avoid the poverty, disease and self-employment.
Pieces of films shown at the Youth Peacemakers YouTube channel every Friday and the official date which will form the clip will be announced through our social networks
On 12th November 2016 YOUTH PEACE MAKERS TANZANIA conducted biking competition known as Tour de Lushoto 2016 which covered 56km for long route and 13km for short route.
This is fourth competition since YPM established Tour de Lushoto Biking Competition, more than 80 youths around Tanga region and other participants from Norway participated; Participants for long route were 37 and all of them were males while in short route participants were 49 whereby 8 of them were females and U14 category participants were 4.The event was officiated by the Lushoto district commissioner Honourable January C. Lukagingira.
In the picture are the participants together with the guest and stakeholders from various departments in the district of Lushoto.
The aim of having this kind of competition in general is to give people in the community especially Youths opportunity to participate in sports and games activities as means to push development in the community for the better life. However, the event also focuses on grooming and promoting the talents. Through this competition, YPM get/select competitive cyclists whom at the end get opportunity to represent YPM in National and International competitions.
YPM organization also motivates the participants by providing prizes to the winners. For instance in this event prizes provided were as follows;
For the case of Long Route the winners with their prizes are as follows;
Winners for short route in female category the prizes were as follows;
1- Tsh.50,000/- + Medal + Cert.+T-shirt + Cap.
2- Tsh.30,000/- + Medal + Cert.+T-shirt + Cap.
3- Tsh.20,000/- + Medal + Cert.+T-shirt + Cap.
There were special prizes for the participants U16 who participated and managed to finish the race whereby four of them were each provided with Tsh.10,000/- + T-shirt.
SUCCESS
Number of young people who want to join the cycling club increases.
To advertise Organization in national and international.
Get airtime in Television like Channel Ten.
No serious injuries.
Positive cooperation from district commissioner’s office.
CHALLENGES
Time management some of participants arrived late the field area to start the race.
Some participants were injured though was not serious injuries.
Gender imbalance—very few female participants to this moment.
Inadequate protective gears such as Helmets, knee protectors gloves etc.
Lack of sponsorship
CONCLUSION
Cycling is one of the famous games all over the World and provides opportunity to youths to employ themselves and to be employed. In that sense YPM will continue to hold this event for the sake of Youths and the whole community in general so as to groom and promote talents.
On 09th December the United Republic of Tanzania celebrates “Independence Day” of Tanganyika which was a day when Tanzania was declared free from the hands of British colonial system through the efforts of Mwl.Nyerere in collaboration with other members of political party which was known as TANU. The Independence Day was on 09th December 1961.
In celebrating 55 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE of Tanganyika now known as Tanzania mainland- YPM organized Lushoto Half Marathon 21km race. The race started at Saba Saba grounds to Sebastian Kolowa Memorial University grounds (SEKOMU) and return through the same route. The guest of honor was expected to be Lushoto district commissioner hon. January Sigareti Lukagingira who was represented by the District Cultural and Sports Officer Mr. Almas.
Young people from different areas around Lushoto district participated in this competition. Approximately more than thirty five athletes participated in this event. The first athlete spent almost 1:04 hrs the second 1:04.57hrs and these records are not far away from the national records and the third winner finished on 1:15.6hrs for the males category. In female category the first winner spent almost two hours, second spent 2:15hrs and the third one managed to finished the race and spent 2:37 minutes.
The Director of YPM Rev. Godfrey Walalaze asked Lushoto council to register the Cycling Association and Marathon Association to help young people who like those games. Finally, the District Cultural and Sports Officer agreed with the idea to form those associations.The first initiative taken was to form temporally steering team which will be responsible to communicate with district authorities for the registration procedures of those two associations. In case of awards the prizes were as follows:
1.~Tsh.100,000/- + Medal & Certificate
2.~Tsh.75,000/- + Medal & Certificate
3.~Tsh.50,000/- + Medal & Certificate
Those prizes awarded equally for both categories that is Males and Females. However, there were special gifts to the young people U15 who participated and manage to finish the race and awarded Tsh.10,000/- + Certificate but the greatest gifts was healthy improvement to participants.
SUCCESS
Organization has been known widely in Lushoto district and over Tanga region.
Lushoto District Council and head of the district office with various institutions show readiness to cooperate in various activities the better future of people in community.
Organization activities has been known to majority in the communityis believed in the community.
CHALLENGES
Time management….participants arrived late at the field area to start the race.
Gender imbalance
Lack of supports from other institutions.
Negative attitude both from participants and community about the game!
Sports and Games is very importance to the community development especially for the youths and also to other stakeholders in general.Blessed are peacemakers.
YPM Tanzania in collaboration with other stakeholders in the community on last 28th & 29th October 2016 were at Mkinga district at Duga Maforoni ward almost 8km to Horohoro border, the border between Tanzania and Kenya in Tanga region.YPM initiated the football league which titled as STOP POVERT CUP, enhancing stop poverty campaign to community around Mkinga. The league took almost two months which are October and November.Actually, registered teams were 17 and among those it was only 11teams which confirmed to participate, whereby nine teams were from Tanzania and two teams from Kenya .Also the league offiaciated by Mkinga District Community Development Officer honourable Mr.Mfuko.
Horohoro & Duga Maforoni in the final
On 3rd was the final stage and the final match played with famous teams which are Horohoro Stars F.C vs Duga Maforoni F.C. Those two teams are very famous teams in Mkinga district the thing which made funs to pay tention for the final match.It was a great match which attracted and motivate more funs. A big number of people attended final that final match including leaders from both two country i.e Tanzania & Kenya. However there were entertaiments provided by YPM Art Group such as plays, songs and drama which based on giving knowledge concerning VICOBA groups as part of Stop Poverty campaign and also there was a football match for U16 boys from Kenya and Tanzania. The champion was Hororo Stars who won 2-1 over Duga Maforoni F.C in normal time.The major campaign of that league as it was titled was to provide knowledge about how to fight against poverty through joining in VICOBA groups as a means on how to minimize even not to eradicate poverty in the community.
The prizes provided on this event was as follows;
1-Tsh.250,000/- + One set of Jersey + Two balls.
2-Tsh.150,000/- + Two balls
3-Tsh.100,000/- + Two balls.
Also there were gifts provided to individuals like best goal keeping player who provided with Tsh.20,000/- and best goals scorer who provided with Tsh.20,000/-.
The guest of honor and stakeholders of football Mkinga district already been planning to hand over gifts
MAIN GOALS/OBJECTIVES.
To groom and promote youths by giving them opportunity to show their talents.
Providing employment opportunities through sports activities.
Creating unity, friendship and cooperation among people in the society.
Fighting against HIV/AIDS and Drugs.
Gathering young people and educate them on how to fight against poverty and advise them to join VICOBA groups.
SUCCESS
Introduce YPM organization and its activities to the community.
YPM and its movement has been known beyond the border of Tanzania through the participation of team from Kenya in this league.
Created partnerships between government officials between these two countries i.e Kenya & Tanzania at councils level.
Helping people especially youth to avoid idle groups.
Improvement of people healthy.
CHALLENGES
In adequate facilities.
Lack of professional coaches.
Poor knowledge about laws of the game from coaches & funs which results on rejecting referees and match commissioners especially funs from Duga Maforoni team.
Lack of public services like toilets, birth rooms and changing rooms around the ground/stadium but director spoke to government officials hope this will be solved
Lack of other sponsors to share running costs of the league.
Poor cooperation from the media to cover the event.
CONCLUSION.
Sports and games is party and percel of human LIFE and viceversa thus why it has been said that “you can’t neglect sports activities from human life. Sports can brought happiness, minimize stress, maintain healthy, promote peace among people in the community. Through sports you can minimize and eradicate poverty by sending messages to many people during the competition through serminal and workshops about entrepreneurship o as to help people to be employed and to finally to employ others.In general sports issues are very important to humans life and it is the point where YPM includes the Sports and Games for Development in its programs on his stop poverty campaigns.
In the end of June, YPM sent 22 young people to participate in the Festival of East Africa cup held at Moshi – Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The festivals took part between 28th June and 03rd July 2016.
Among the group, ten are in arts group and 12 are in the under 16 boys’ football team. This time, once again we did not manage to send the girls team. They still need to train more and get local competition to stand for the bigger events. In general the motivation for girls’ football teams is in need of boosting. Historically this is the third year since YPM begun to participate in this East African Cup festival. The participation has always been a big gist to our youth; it has helped young people learn through various seminars offered throughout the week of the festival.
Through this participation, YPM team has managed to show that they are not only for participation but more also to compete in a peaceful spirit of building a network of peace supporters. The team managed this year once again to reach the quarter finals. This is a great success as compared to the first year when we were defeated in early stages. Like last year, we managed to send a team of younger but high spirited youths. They have shown that we can compete, we can challenge one another and while doing so keep peace in the number one agenda of our activities, sports and programs. This is possible among our circles but even more a phenomenon that can be applied in international negotiation cycles as well as business rounds.
YPM arts group is a group that provides education through theater performance. They use art to warn, teach, encourage and entertain. They managed this time to teach on the effects of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Though not a direct theme in YPM, but in the sense of being the voice of many who suffer through such practices they managed to send in a point of rights for young girls wherever they are and in whatever part of the country or part of the world.
On 30 YPM that was when the arts group to got chance to perform. Different to other groups that were having traditional songs, YPM arts group made a play which was also having traditional songs to color the message presented. It was such an attractive, entertaining and educative performance that left many with need to get to know more of YPM.
In this festival there were various seminars in which young people got chance to be highlighted and learning new things. In the seminars the following were given the priority for this festival:-
1. Stop Poverty
2. Leadership
3. Law of the game
4. Coaching
5. WASH
Also there was the training of media in which John Kunguru represented YPM. He managed to share and learn on
1. Filming
2. Animation
3. Cartoon
Despite some challenges that were promised to be addressed as we go on, the festival was a wonderful platform to share talents, to learn and to educate one another. Keep Alive East African Cup. YPM on behalf of the host committee and the sponsors would like to congratulate all the young people who were involved and give honor to represent different Organizations; congratulate those who kept high the standards of good discipline and for the great work they are doing.
Lushoto biking club under YPM umbrella which now has more than 40 members approximately has tendency to have training/practice every Saturday in the morning session. The picture above show bikes repairing for next Saturday session.
