In the remote communities of Ha Mavuka and Sehlabathebe in Qacha's Nek District, Lesotho, CLC Team Qacha's Nek is showing how Sport for All can improve health, strengthen community connections, and inspire positive life choices. Launched in February 2026, the project reached 318 participants aged 9 to 72 and older, including 205 women and girls and 113 men and boys.
The project brought together children, teenagers, adults, and older people in inclusive physical activities designed to promote healthier lifestyles and stronger social connections. Led by TAFISA-trained Community Leadership Course (CLC) graduates, the team worked with local communities, schools, health services, government agencies, community leaders, volunteers, and local businesses to create accessible opportunities for everyone to participate.
To support the project delivery, the team recruited and trained 20 local volunteers to facilitate Sport for All activities in their own communities. Four community events combined recreational games, traditional dancing, brainteasers, and health education sessions covering nutrition, personal hygiene, physical activity, responsible decision-making, and healthy lifestyles. Support from five local schools, community leaders, and businesses helped strengthen local ownership, while food parcels and transport support made participation more accessible.
The impact has extended beyond individual wellbeing. Community members described greater unity among children and families, while local leaders have observed stronger cooperation and a reduction in criminal activity. The project has also helped identify emerging sporting talent among young people and strengthened local volunteer networks.
A key sign of changing attitudes has been the growing popularity of morning group runs. Activities that were initially viewed with scepticism are now increasingly embraced by the community. More people are joining each week, while local chiefs have allocated spaces for new Sport for All clubs, recognising the programme as a valuable movement that brings people together.
As one participant put it:
"Sport for All is an everlasting lifestyle."
Looking ahead, Team Qacha's Nek plans to recruit more volunteers, increase participation among older adults and men, strengthen partnerships with schools, churches, local businesses, and the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission, and organise more inter-community activities. Continued volunteer training and the expansion of Sport for All education into neighbouring communities will help build on the progress already made.
The project demonstrates how inclusive, community-led physical activity can create practical opportunities to improve health and wellbeing while strengthening relationships, encouraging positive choices, and building a stronger sense of community. In doing so, it strongly reflects TAFISA's mission of creating a better and healthier world through Sport for All. By developing local leadership and community ownership, Team Qacha's Nek is helping lay the foundations for a healthier, more active, and more connected future across Qacha's Nek.
By Team Qacha's Nek: Letsielo Mabitle, Monde Ndaba, Semema Marabe, Rets'elisitsoe Goodman, ‘Makatleho ‘Neko, Thabang Letele, Nkopane Rajoale, and Molope Mphahama
