Tonata organized a soccer tournament as part of a support group initiative to raise funds for building an office. This tournament served to mobilize and engage young boys in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) and promote better health practices among youth. The event also aimed to address the challenges of alcohol and drug abuse in the community.
In addition to the soccer matches, we conducted interactive educational sessions with the youth. These sessions focused on:
- HIV and STI Prevention:
- Educating the boys about Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) as effective tools for HIV prevention.
- Emphasizing the importance of other preventive measures, such as condom use and regular health check-ups.
- Addressing Harmful Gender Norms:
- Exploring deeply rooted harmful gender norms and beliefs that put young boys and their peers at risk.
- Encouraging the youth to become advocates for healthier, more respectful relationships and equitable community practices.
The soccer games served as a unifying and motivational platform. A total of seven teams registered to compete in the tournament for prizes and a total of 48 boys were reached with our educational sessions. Inspired by the event’s success, the community members decided to:
- Establish a Boys’ Support Group to provide ongoing mentorship and peer support.
- Commit to organizing an educational soccer tournament twice a year to sustain engagement and promote awareness on GBV, health, and substance abuse
This event demonstrated how sports can serve as a powerful tool for educating and inspiring young people while addressing critical social and health challenges.
