NOWSPAR hosted an advocacy training to facilitate capacity development of young female sport leaders in the sport for development sector in Zambia. The training will equip young female leaders with skills to conduct advocacy within their organisations on various issues. The youth advocates will be a core group to drive advocacy in their organisations and together with the sport sector, not only on affairs affecting women but also on issues affecting them at individual level and in wider society.

The course is an introductory training in advocacy, covering topics including what is advocacy, the importance of advocacy, how to identify advocacy issues, how to develop and deliver advocacy messages, understanding the decision making process and developing advocacy projects. The training has a special focus on Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport as an advocacy issue identified by participants.

The first part of the training took place on 1st to 5th November 2010 at the Commonwealth Youth Centre at University of Zambia in Lusaka, resource persons are drawn from NOWSPAR, the Young Women’s Christian Association and the Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council among others.

Participants are drawn from the following lead organisations in sport for development: Sport Coaches Outreach (SCORE), Sport in Action, Edusport Foundation, Kwenuha, Response Network, the National Paralympic Committee of Zambia, NOWSPAR Chapters- Kaunda Square, Chisekesi and Serenje.

She Speaks for Herself!  is part of the ‘Every Body Matters’ programme supported by the Norwergian Olympic and Paralympic Committees and Confederation of Sport (NIF).