Life Skills Development Through Sport

FAME Foundation, in collaboration with Laureus Sport for Good, organized its monthly Life Skills Development Through Sport session on September 18, 2025, at LEA Primary School, Jabi, Abuja, under the Play It Dream It initiative. The session brought together sporting activities and mentorship lessons to help participants build self-confidence, teamwork, and communication skills.

The day began with a warm-up exercise led by Coach Exploit Ofem. The children jogged around the field and stretched to improve flexibility while learning the importance of caring for their bodies to prevent injuries. This was followed by a ball-passing drill that encouraged cooperation among teammates. The children later took part in games such as Fire on the Mountain, racing, and the filling-the-basket game. To round off the sports activities, the boys played a football competition while the girls played handball. Each of these activities promoted teamwork, communication, and physical coordination.

After the sports session, the mentorship session was facilitated by Coach Ifeoma Adibe. She spoke on the theme “Building Respect and Good Manners: Learning Kind Words and Positive Behaviors.” Her session began with a discussion on what respect means in daily life, stressing that it is not limited to greetings but also includes the way people speak and act toward one another. She explained that respect and good manners form the foundation of positive relationships at home, in school, and in the community.

To make the discussion interactive, she asked the children to share how they treat their parents, teachers, siblings, and classmates. Their responses provided an entry point for her to highlight examples of both respectful and disrespectful behavior. She explained how politeness, empathy, and choosing the right words can prevent conflicts, foster friendship, and create harmony. She also noted that practicing good manners leaves lasting impressions that can open doors to opportunities in the future.

Coach Ifeoma made the lesson practical by giving real-life scenarios. She asked the children to imagine situations such as greeting a neighbor, responding to a teacher’s instructions, or playing with friends during disagreements. In each scenario, she explained how kind words and respectful actions could change outcomes positively. She also stressed the importance of listening to others, sharing, apologizing when wrong, and showing gratitude.

The session was highly participatory, as the children shared their experiences and asked questions about handling situations where others might be rude or unkind. Coach Ifeoma guided them on responding calmly, maintaining self-control, and being role models of good behavior. She reinforced that respect is mutual, and by showing it consistently, they encourage others to treat them with dignity in return.

The mentorship session concluded with an engaging question-and-answer segment, which allowed the children to reflect on the key points discussed and commit to practicing them in their daily lives. The day ended with a group photo session that captured the activities and participants.