Volunteer sport initiative celebrates 20 years of impact

24 Apr

The Cardiff Metropolitan University’s ‘ZamFam’ reunite at Durham Castle **Photo credit**: Cardiff Metropolitan University

An international sport initiative that has empowered over 160,000 young people across Zambia and the UK is celebrating 20 years this summer.

Cardiff Metropolitan University is one of several UK universities involved in the Volunteer Zambia, which aims to inspire change through the power of sport.

It was established in 2005 and is a collaboration between leading UK sport universities - the Wallace Group - with other members including Durham University, Loughborough University, Northumbria University, and University of Bath.

Conceived as a partnership with Zambia’s leading sports non-governmental organisation, Sport in Action, Volunteer Zambia enhances the quality of life for Zambian youth through sport and recreational activities.

Over the past two decades, Cardiff Met volunteers - students and staff - have participated in various roles, including coaching, teaching, sports development, marketing, media and event management.

The programme has helped to develop community sport hub sites, which have expanded access to sports for young people, particularly girls.

These hubs have facilitated the training of numerous local leaders and coaches, fostering a sustainable and empowering environment for youth development.

In celebration of its 20th year, volunteers past and present – affectionately known as the ‘Zamfam’ – met at UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durham Castle on April 5.

Speaking at the event, Ben O’Connell, director of sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University and chair of the Wallace Group, said: “Having been fortunate enough to visit Zambia in 2023, I left feeling inspired and committed to doing more to help support the great work and continue to develop life-changing experiences for our students.

“As Volunteer Zambia commemorates two decades of dedication and achievement, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of international collaboration and the unifying spirit of sport in driving positive change.”

Cardiff Met Sport’s digital media and marketing officer, Rhys Russell, accompanied five students to Zambia in summer 2024, and said: “The project is about so much more than sport. It’s about empowering young people, especially girls, fostering leadership, and creating opportunities that inspire long-lasting change.

“I’ve seen how the local coaches grow in confidence as they step into leadership roles, and how the children light up with excitement and joy as they engage with sport in a safe and supportive environment.”