Zingalume lift Play 2 Conserve cuo

ZINGALUME emerged the champions of the Play2Conserve football tournament held at Lusaka OYDC Sports Development Centre organised by OYDC Zambia and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).Over the past few weeks football teams from around the OYDC communities were mobilised to participate in the competition and encouraged the participants to advocate for nature conservation. The […]

Zingalume lift Play 2 Conserve cuo
ZINGALUME emerged the champions of the Play2Conserve football tournament held at Lusaka OYDC Sports Development Centre organised by OYDC Zambia and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).Over the past few weeks football teams from around the OYDC communities were mobilised to participate in the competition and encouraged the participants to advocate for nature conservation. The project kicked off in January, 2020 with over 35 sports personnel among them footballers Mary Mwakapila & Jimmy Chisenga, freestyle football star Cecil Chiila and veteran football administrator Chris Chibuye were trained about the project by facilitators from WWF Zambia and Wildlife Environment Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ).The trained conservation ambassadors from the OYDC and WWF have planted over 1,000 trees at OYDC and different communities in Lusaka that include Chaisa, Mandevu, Emmasdale, Kabanana, Chazanga, Chipata, Matero and Zingalume.The ambassadors have also been sensitizing the general public on environmental protection and waste management. Over 60,000 youth, women and men from these communities were sensitized about environmental protection through the ‘Play 2 Conserve’ Project.The Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development, Minister of Energy, National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) President, OYDC Board of Trustees Chairperson, WWF Zambia Country Director and Wildlife Environment Conservation Society of Zambia (WECSZ) representatives are among the many dignitaries expected to be in attendance at this event.OYDC Zambia Chief Executive Officer Dr. Fredrick Chitangala says the OYDC is grateful to WWF for the successful partnership and accomplishment of the ‘Play 2 Conserve’ Project.“In recognition of the power of sports, OYDC is ready to work with partners such as WWF and WECSZ in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.And WWF Country Director Nachilala Nkombo says WWF Zambia is passionate about placing young people at the heart of moving the conservation agenda.“WWF recognises the unique challenges the youth may face in doing this and the importance that sport can play in creating this space for their effective participation,” Ms Nkombo said.“We all have to work towards protection of the environment and replenishment of the resources that we are fast depleting. We therefore call upon all young people around the country, from schools, churches, and local communities to join efforts with us in nature and environmental protection. We further call upon government to create spaces for the full participation of youths in conservation and nature protection initiatives that are locally sustained, as these also provide an opportunity to create employment opportunities for young people,” she added.Nkombo said WWF Zambia has joined other WWF offices around the world to implement the New Deal for People and Nature campaign (ND4PN) aimed at sustainable human and nature interaction for the benefit of both current and future generations.“We urge all Zambians to take interest in the campaign so that we can begin to reverse the adverse effects of environmental degradation that lead to climate change and start implementing climate smart activities to replenish what is lost and protect what we have for equal sustainable development, she said.” – OYDCZAMBIA The Sun