The Commonwealth Games Association of Uganda (CGAU) has officially launched the schools’ spirit clubs’ initiative dubbed the “Game changer”.
This happened at the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) headquarters in Lugogo, Kampala city on Saturday, March 12, 2022.
CGAU secretary general Beatrice Ayikoru addressed the media flanked by the assistant secretary general Lydia Gloria Dhamuzungu, Yayiro Kasasa (chairperson of Talent Identification commission) and two schools’ representatives; Linekar Lumbuye (Kibuli S.S) and Sulaiman Bulamba (Mbogo High), among others.
The Game Changer is meant to have students in Uganda to live the Commonwealth Games Federation values and integrate them into their sports and daily lives, as a means of ultimately communicating the value of sports and physical activity.
CGAU secretary general Beatrice Ayikoru
Through this project, the Commonwealth Games Association of Uganda is proud to reach out to multitudes of the other young school going people at secondary school level based on three values; humanity, equality and destiny.
The Commonwealth Games Federation has thus identified a total of 32 secondary schools from the four regions of the country as centers of excellence in sport and co-curricular activities.
Kibuli S.S’ Lumbuye and Bulamba of Mbogo High were present as they also signed the memorandum of understanding with CGAU.
This Game Changer programme will call for special creativity from the students. We are humbled for the Commonwealth Games Association of Uganda.
Linikar Lumbuye, Physical Education Teacher – Kibuli S.S
The teachers are also expected to undergo a training on the material and contents of the thematic areas of the Commonwealth values as well as guidelines of assessment for the participants from the various schools that will take place on a date yet to be confirmed.
This training will gather 64 Physical Education teachers, two per school of the 32 schools and members from the CGAU.
Through the establishment of Commonwealth clubs in their respective schools, they will execute activities that create awareness of the values and also legacy programmes in each of the schools.
The teachers (patrons) will be at the center of disseminating this information to the students in their respective schools.
This project targets students aged 14 to 21 years who will be recognized and awarded with accolades as well as certificates of performance at the close of the project.
The annual recognition ceremony to the outstanding clubs in every region that will have caused impactful change in their schools and communities.
During the ceremony, clubs will also share experiences and key learnings to make themselves sustainable.
The criteria to select the best schools will be based on the number of children signed up by each school, creativity in disseminating Commonwealth values through sports to the students and the media presence (print, direct mail, websites and social media – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Snapchat). New outstanding talents will be identified as well as the evaluation questionnaire from each school together with the proof provided.
Assistant Secretary General ,Lydia Gloria Dhamuzungu
The talent identification commission of the Commonwealth Games Association will work closely with the different sports federations to structure and create pathways for the students with great talent and potential.
The project is part of the biggest plan to grow sports with the shared values.
Every 12th March, there will be celebrations to commemorate the Commonwealth Day.
