For the past three years, Amer Sports has supported the development of school sports in Tanzania through the Finnish non-governmental organization LiiKe ry (Sports Development Aid). LiiKe trains teachers to be physical education instructors and organizes school sports for children between the ages of eight and 13 years old. When schools are able to organize sports classes, the students' grades improve, delinquencies decrease, and more of them complete their education.
The continuous work culminates yearly in Amer Sports Day, when teachers and pupils receive information about exercise and health while also being able to participate in ball sports and other exercise activities and information sessions. This years Amer Sports Day was held on October 2nd in the Singida and Mtwara provinces in Tansania. The event was extremely popular, as 1070 schools and 500,000 pupils and teachers participated.
LiiKe ry focuses its efforts in regions and schools that have not had the know-how, equipment, or financial capability to organize school sports. The equipment and improved instruction serve as a significant encouragement for children to attend school. LiiKe ry's results clearly indicate that organizing school sports increases the likelihood of students completing their studies, leading healthier lives, and becoming more positive contributors to the development of their communities. Promoting education is a key to breaking the poverty cycle.
In the summer of 2009, LiiKe ry brought the FC Vito Malaika team of girls to participate in the Helsinki soccer Cup. “It's been particularly delightful to notice that nearly 100 per cent of girls head off to school if soccer is on the class schedule,” says Ari Koivu, Executive Director of LiiKe ry. Girls actively participating in sports can have surprisingly big effects. “Due to the societal pressures, girls often stay at home to take care of domestic work and their younger siblings. Educated women teach their children the skills they've learned and improve the well-being of their families, and promoting equality is one of our key missions,” continues Koivu.
Over the past three years, Amer Sports has donated more than 16 000 Wilson soccer balls, basketballs, and volleyballs to more than 1 000 Tanzanian schools, which have been used by more than 500 000 children under the supervision of more than 4 000 LiiKe trained teachers.
“It's important for Amer Sports to support the opportunity for children all around the world to participate in sports,” says Roger Talermo, President and CEO of Amer Sports. “It has been wonderful to see how sports has helped these children build better opportunities for themselves through sports and education.”
