Thursday, 16 May 2013

Physically Active Youth took part at the National Youth Week that was held from 24-28 April 2013 in Eenhana, the capital town of the Ohangwena Region, northern Namibia, on the border with Angola. Below is a report on our exciting activites written by P.A.Y. learners and cyclists.

The national youth week program started around 10h00 with the youth marching through town. We set up the camp immediately after the march, 5 gazebos were set up including the big Netbank one plus 5 Nedbank banners on behalf of Nedbank Namibia , our main sponsor. Setting everything up took about one hour and by 1p.m we started with our P.A.Y activities.
We placed seven stands with people having to go from stand 1 to stand 7. Please continue reading for a succinct briefing on what the P.A.Y. programme activities were about.

Stand 1: Information desk by Lucky Mbako

I was in charge of the information desk under the big Netbank gazebo. I was the opening door to our activities; people came through me and then pass on to the next stand. I talked about PAY and NEDBANK. I introduced the stands to the people and introduced the PAY NEDBANK CYCLING TEAM; I had cycling magazines by my desk which I also used to explain about cycling. Reported by: Lucky M.

Stand 2: Rules and Regulations by Fiffy Kashululu

I, Fiffy Kashululu was in charge of making sure about everybody’s safety. I had to inform people about safety measures that are to be taken seriously when out on the road and in a big bunch. What to do in-case one has a problem and has to stop. Also on how to communicate with someone up front without causing any crush. Before sending people to the next desk, I had to make sure that people knew how to change their gears knew how to use their brakes properly and made sure they had a positive attitude before letting them get on any bicycle. I also had a few questions lined up for all the participants where-by they got hampers donated by NEDBANK our main sponsor. It was actually fun doing something for the people and letting them in on most of our cycling experience.
Reported by: Fiffy K.

STAND 3: JO-JOE’s FUN AND GAMES by JOHANNES HAMUNYELA

I, Jo-Joe, was in charge with creating up new fun games. Where-by I had a special bike that looks more like a motor bike and I was so amazed that everyone wanted to try it out. So I placed cones all around my area where by I gave everyone a chance to ride around them, so whoever rides without stepping on the ground gets a hamper fully sponsored by NEDBANK. Same applied to the football squad.
The secret in all this was to work out the balancing on the bike whenever and where-ever!
Reported by: Johannes H.

Stand 4: Eenhana community Cycle Tour by Ananias

Days 2 and 3 of the cycle tour was one of the few fun activities people could take part in after going through the whole program of schooling: information desk through to rules and regulations, through to community, learning how to cycle and then fun games. We had about 20 bicycles (same type) 10 people per tour (for safety reasons), so we had two teams, and two guides per team. One rides in front of everybody, riding in 1 neat single file, and the other guide rides way back behind everyone else, they ride out all wearing yellow vests for tour one and orange for tour two. They go out for a nice 2km ride on the tarred road and move to the gravel for another 3km, then back to camp (both day 1 and day 2). This was beautifully done, everybody had a go on the tour and wanted to go again and again. It’s amazing how everyone was interacting with people they only met. It’s beautiful and can’t wait for the next youth week.
Reported by: Ananias

STAND 5: Teaching Community How to Cycle by Laban Naftal

This stand was made specially for people who cannot cycle, within this category, we taught the basic principles , rules and methods of cycling. All beginners were taught the following skills: balance, steering, braking and pedaling.
After several hours of working with people from different social backgrounds, and very much full of life teaching them how to ride a bicycle was just too awesome. We could do this all year long. Some people were afraid of falling off the bicycles, so we had to mentally prepare and motivate them.
All of the first timers got to cycle by themselves after day one, and it was a blessing to put a smile on a person’s face. I am proud to see a bunch of female’s who never rode a bicycle before, then after a day, they actually doing it without our help. These people really do want to learn in order to use bicycles as a mean of transport, have fun and socialize.

Different people and most but not least, staying healthy. Cycling is a form of body workout.

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