By Felton Ziyaya | BICC Officer
Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) has revolutionized the way adolescents and youth in Dowa and Ntchisi access vital information and services, leveraging the universal language of sports to promote healthy lifestyles and informed decision-making.
Through a dynamic football bonanza, BLM brought together youth, messages, and serviceson 10th and 11th May,2025, creating a unique platform for interaction and engagement on which Ntchisi and Dowa Districts commended BLM’s efforts, citing this is shaping the youth choices and future.
The initiative has addressed accessibility challenges, with Bridgitta Chirwa, Dowa District Youth Friendly Services Coordinator, noting, “We have long distances in some areas for one to reach the facility, but with these activities, we are thankful.” Sharing the sentiments,Joel Mhango, Ntchisi District Education Sports Officer,praised the initiative by BLM “We don’t know what we could have
done without Banja La Mtsogolo in Ntchisi, this is a well calculated effort by BLM, bringing sports and sexual reproductive health to our youth, we are thankful.”
Furthermore, there were all smiles from Purity Kadawati, Dowa District Youth Assistant Officer who mentioned that the bonanza and all its objectives have really promoted brilliant awareness and encouraged the youth on how to go about Sexual and Reproductive Health issues.
On her part, highlighting the positive impact on local youth, Idah Savala, BLM Demand Generation Manager, emphasized the initiative’s purpose. “These bonanzas are not only here for the sake of the sport, but rather to have a platform for interacting with you, the youth, the messages, and the services we have brought, so that we can make the right choices in life.”
Apart from the actual bonanza, BLM also offered a range of services, including, Family Planning which Provided essential information and resources for informed
reproductive health choices, HIV Testing Services (HTS) which offered confidential and accessible testing options, Oral Self-Testing Expertise which had an emphasis on educating the youth on the benefits and proper use of oral self-testing tools and the distribution of Oral Self-Testing Tools
with approximately 400 youths accessed these services, marking a significant
milestone in the initiative’s impact.
Closing the Dowa Bonanza, Loveness Mphasa, Dowa District Sports Officer asked BLM to bring more and more activities of these kind. “What else do our youths need here if not for these activities? As a district, we really appreciate. Please continue with these initiatives and activities.”
Eight youth football teams participated in the bonanza, with Njakwa and Mvera emerging as winners.
Banja La Mtsogolo is implementing this project through Innovations in Health Rights and Development (iHEARD), underscoring the organization’s commitment to collaborative and effective programming and by harnessing the power of sports, BLM is empowering youth to make informed choices, promoting healthier lifestyles, and fostering positive change in Dowa and Ntchisi.
