The cheers echoed across the field. Students sprinted, laughed, and competed with enthusiasm, while teachers and government officials watched from the sidelines. It looked like an ordinary sports event, but something much bigger was happening.
On 29 May, as Mental Health Awareness Month drew to a close, MATCH Foundation launched the Sports for Mental Health, a new activity to the Achinyamata Ojaka mental health project, turning a day of games into a powerful conversation about one of the most important yet often overlooked issues affecting young people today.
For many young people, mental health struggles are carried silently. Fear of judgment, stigma, and a lack of safe spaces often make it difficult to ask for help. Yet on this day, the netball pitches became more than places for competition, they became spaces for connection, expression, and understanding.
Between the movement games, students gathered for conversations about mental wellness, learning that it is okay to speak up when life feels overwhelming and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Through sport, barriers began to come down. Young people who may have struggled to start difficult conversations found themselves opening up, connecting with peers, and discovering that they were not alone.
The event brought together students and teachers from various secondary schools who are currently running mental health clubs established by MATCH Foundation. Representatives from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Youth and Sports who graced the launch communicated a strong message; young people’s well-being is not the responsibility of government but it requires an entire community.
As the energy of the day continued to build, so did the excitement around what this initiative could achieve. By combining sport with mental health awareness, MATCH Foundation is creating safe and supportive environments where young people can build confidence, strengthen relationships, and learn healthy ways to navigate life’s challenges.
What began as a launch event marked the start of a movement. A movement that encourages young people to speak openly, listen to one another, and seek help when they need it. A movement that recognizes that mental health is just as important as physical health.
As Mental Health Awareness Month came to an end, the message from the field was clear; every young person deserves to be heard, supported, and empowered. Through the Achinyamata Ojaka project, MATCH Foundation has reached more than 3,000 for students from 5 districts for the last 2 years. Special gratitude to the Segal Family Foundation for their financial support to reach this milestone.
