Mutare Haarlem Sportleaders

Introduction
MHS is an initiative that is building and strengthening mass participation in sport. This is done by passing on skills to people, particularly youth and by empowering new links between schools, communities, sport associations and development cooperation programmes in Mutare. Partnership is the key to long term success and sustainability.

Background of MHS
The city of Mutare and the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands are twinned and have a sustainability charter that was signed in the year 2000. The Mutare-Haarlem sport project is part of the charter. Young people between the ages of 16 and 30 years are recruited to join the trainee sport leaders. After an assessment period of 6-12 months they start a ten stages programme to become an advanced sport leader. In October 2003 a group of 18 sport leaders completed the courses. They formed a professional organisation called MHS.

Technical assistance
Permanently two to three volunteers from the Netherlands are in Mutare, each for a period of six months, since the year 2000 to assist in the development of MHS.
A sport development Advisor from the Netherlands is also in Mutare.

Setting
The programme is set under the City of Mutare, Housing and Community Services Department, and gets guidelines from an Advisory Board that involves key stakeholders. These are: City of Mutare; Sport and Recreation Commission; Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture; City Link Haarlem-Mutare.

More about the sportleaders at: mhsmutare.org

Objectives MHS

Vision
To have quality education in and through sport, that enhances sport for all and to have opportunities through sport with good facilities and a Multi-Stakeholders approach.

Our principal values are:
- Professionalism
- Goal orientated
- Self motivated - commitment
- Integrity
- Mutual respect

Working Objectives
To promote and develop sport for all, regardless of age, race, sex, income and geographical location.

To produce qualified personnel to enhance various communities and school based recreation and sport.

Offer some talent identification for participants, coaches and sport administrators.

Building partnerships with key stakeholders for the purpose of professional growth and development in sport fraternity.

In the long run the sportleaders should be able to:

Determine new directions in the programme through collaboration and concert-action with key stakeholders, therefore earning a living out of sport.

Enhance the professional standards and development of programme through field work experiences.

Uphold task, organisational management and control.

Apply effective evaluation strategies and implement theoretical and practical scientic concepts and pursue various research studies for the purpose of growth and development.

Programme Statement
The programme is in principal demand oriented.
Below are the problems and groups MHS aims to serve:

People in Mutare yearning for organised and meaningful sport activities, especially unemployed youths.

Identification of talent at a young age to enhance strong and competitive sport in schools and the community.

Development of functional and professional clubs and leagues in Mutare.

Support of disadvantaged groups in games and sport.

Better HIV/Aids information through the Kicking Aids Out concept.

MHS Programme at the individual and society level
Mutare community has accepted sportleaders as part of the development of human resources.
Colleges now offer quota for sport leaders to assist the Physical Education and Sport lectures in coaching and training.
Positions are reserved for sport leaders for enrolment in teachers colleges.
Schools call upon sport leaders to assist teachers in school gala, leagues and trainings.
Development co-operation programmes are seeking partnership with MHS for using sport as a tool.

Monitoring, Assessment and Evaluation
The supervising team provide instructions, direction, assistance, and evaluations to guide the sport leaders towards professionalism.
Supervision of sport leaders will be given with the hosting centres/schools where sport leaders will be attached.
Evaluation represents a reflective and informative appraisal of the work covered by applying following concepts:

Analysis of strengths and weaknesses of MHS and its cooperative partners.

Identification of aspects which were less successful and suggestions for alternatives.

Application of the present situation and its barriers that are based on internal and external environments.