Building Health Awareness in Thabana Morena Through Sport for All

In Thabana Morena, Mafeteng District, Lesotho, CLC Team Mafeteng is showing how sport and physical activity can become practical tools for better community health. Through their Sport for All initiative, "Thabana Morena Health Awareness Through Sport for All", the team reached 293 participants, including 188 women and girls and 105 men and boys, with adolescents and young adults forming the largest group.

The project responded to rising health challenges among young people and the wider community, limited opportunities for recreation, and the need for stronger community engagement. Led by TAFISA-trained Community Leadership Course (CLC) graduates, the team worked with local chiefs, schools, churches, health workers, youth organisations, and volunteers. Running from March to June 2026, the initiative combined health education with enjoyable physical activity, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to become more active while learning about disease prevention, nutrition, mental wellbeing, and healthy lifestyles.

Activities included health awareness presentations, health screenings, group discussions, fitness sessions, football, recreational games, and inclusive Sport for All events open to everyone regardless of age or physical ability. Together, they reinforced a simple message: movement is an essential part of everyday wellbeing, not something reserved for organised sport.

The results were encouraging. Every participant took part in a health awareness session, and many reported greater confidence, a better understanding of disease prevention, and more positive attitudes towards regular physical activity. New partnerships between schools, health centres, community leaders, and volunteers created a stronger support network, while relationships between generations grew closer. An unexpected sign of the project's reach has been the emergence of new singing and dance groups, giving residents who may not see themselves as athletes an enjoyable way to stay active and connected.

Some of the strongest evidence of impact came from participants themselves. One young woman said: "Before, I never thought I could take part in community sports. Now I feel like I belong, and I want to keep going." Volunteers described feeling inspired to recruit others after watching previously excluded residents grow in confidence. School representatives, who said the activities had brought new energy to their school, committed to keeping their facilities open so Sport for All can continue to serve neighbouring communities.

Looking ahead, Team Mafeteng plans to continue supporting trained volunteers, strengthen partnerships with schools, clinics, and local leaders, organise regular Sport for All events, and secure additional resources to expand activities.

The project demonstrates how combining health education with inclusive physical activity can improve wellbeing while bringing people of all ages together, strongly reflecting TAFISA's mission of creating a better and healthier world through Sport for All. By placing ownership in the hands of the community, Team Mafeteng is laying the foundations for healthier, more active, and more connected lives across Thabana Morena.

By Team Mafeteng: Makatleho Lefoka, Julia Makau, Majulia Kulehile, Tumelo Nkoja, Poosela Pule, Bokang Jonkomane, Mpalinyane Ranko, and Kholu Sekaleli

This project was funded by SUCCEED (Supporting Communities Empowerment & Development through Sport for All), a global framework dedicated to fostering community empowerment and development through capacity building in Sport for All. Led by TAFISA in collaboration with the IOC through its Olympism365 strategy, SUCCEED aims to provide a unified and synergistic approach towards building the capacity of Sport for All stakeholders.