Life Skills Development Through Sports

FAME Foundation, in partnership with Laureus Sport for Good, hosted its monthly Life Skills Development Through Sport session on September 24, 2025, at LEA Primary School, Apo, Abuja, under the Play It Dream It initiative. The session brought together more than 70 children who actively participated in sporting and mentorship activities designed to promote self-confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership, communication, and a sense of community.

The day began with a warm-up exercise led by Coach Treasure Okoye. The children jogged around the field and stretched to improve flexibility and reduce the risk of injuries. This prepared them for a series of fun and interactive activities. The first activity was a ball-passing exercise, which encouraged teamwork, communication, and the breaking of social barriers. The children then took part in a racing competition that created energy and enthusiasm while teaching them about healthy competition and resilience. The sports segment concluded with a football match among the participants, providing them with an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and enjoy group play. These activities helped the children develop physical fitness and reinforced key life skills such as cooperation, self-belief, and social interaction.

The mentorship session was led by Ms. Sechivir Orhena, who focused on the theme of Safety Awareness. She spoke to the children about essential safety practices in their daily lives, including road safety, avoiding unsafe interactions with strangers, and taking precautions at home and in school. She explained how being observant and cautious in different situations can prevent accidents and protect them from harm.

Ms. Orhena used an interactive approach, asking the children questions about how they cross the road, how they respond when strangers approach them, and what they do when left alone at home. Their answers allowed her to assess their level of awareness and build on their existing knowledge. She corrected misconceptions and provided practical advice that the children could easily apply. She emphasized the importance of looking both ways before crossing the road, walking on pedestrian paths when available, and obeying traffic lights and signs. On the topic of stranger danger, she explained why it is important not to accept gifts, food, or rides from strangers and encouraged them to always inform a trusted adult when approached.

To make the session more relatable, Ms. Orhena shared real-life examples of accidents and risky situations that could have been avoided if proper safety measures had been followed. One of the examples involved a child who was injured while playing near a busy road, which highlighted the consequences of neglecting simple safety rules. She used such scenarios to show how small decisions, such as waiting to cross until the road is clear, can make a significant difference.

The session encouraged active participation, as many children shared their own experiences of crossing roads, dealing with unfamiliar people, or encountering risky situations at home. Through their stories, Ms. Orhena was able to connect the lessons to real situations the children had faced, reinforcing the idea that safety is not an abstract concept but a daily practice. She stressed that safety is a personal responsibility and that every child has the power to make choices that protect themselves and others.

The mentorship concluded with a question-and-answer session where the children asked about issues they were uncertain about, such as what to do if they are followed by a stranger or how to act when alone at home. Ms. Orhena provided clear and practical responses, reinforcing the importance of staying calm, seeking help from trusted adults, and avoiding risky decisions. The children left the session with a clearer understanding of how to apply safety rules in their everyday lives.

The day ended with a group photo session, capturing the energy and participation of the children and facilitators.