Girls In Rugby Learning Through Sport: Training of trainers workshop underway in Entebbe

A three-day Training of Trainers workshop for the Girls in Rugby Learning Through Sport (G.I.R.L.S) project has got underway at Innophine Hotel in Entebbe on Friday, 28th November 2025.

This workshop is organized by the Swans Sports Club with support from the Olympic Solidarity in conjunction with Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and Uganda Rugby Union (URU) and the Olympic Solidarity.

Over 100 athletes, teachers (primary and secondary), coaches, referees, local leaders and other stakeholders have graced this workshop, which is intended to strengthen safeguarding in sport, fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) and safe coaching in schools, all intended to create a safe sports environment for all.

The topics on the opening day included safeguarding and child protection, school safety guarding systems and case management, understanding Gender Based Violence (types and drivers), as well as mechanisms of preventing GBV.

“This training of trainers will help the athletes, teachers, coaches, referees, local leaders and other officials directly involved in sport. As regards Safeguarding, it is important to note that Safeguarding affects the athletes (players), coaches and administrators alike. Therefore, it will help address this critical matter that helps create a safe environment for sport to thrive professionally,” Patricia Ayebare, a certified Safe Guard officer who facilitated at the workshop, remarked.

“This workshop is very relevant and important to me at a time when Safe Guarding in sport needs to be presented to the front. How to handle the athletes and how to bring out their best matters a lot and this comes from safe environment created,” Paul Mark Mutebi, a coach at Rams Rugby Club, spoke.

Elizabeth Namutyaba, a deputy head teacher at Bugonga Boys Primary School, lauded the organizers of this workshop in line with the professional running of institutions as schools.

“We as teachers and leaders in schools have benefited a lot from this workshop. I want to thank the organisers in a special way for putting up all the resources together to have a successful event. The knowledge attained from this workshop will further help us to raise our children better,” Namutyaba attested.

Action-packed menu coming up on Saturday and Sunday:

The second day of the workshop will entail adolescent mental health and psycho-social support, life skills for adolescents and gender based violence prevention, engaging boys as allies, as well as practical work sessions.

The final day of the workshop shall be inclined along the sport values, financial literacy and Gender Based Violence in the Rugby sport.

This workshop comes at an opportune time as the rest of the world is celebrating 16 days of activism to build safe sports confines for all people.

Participants will be rewarded with certification by the close of business.