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by SayPro Chief Legal Officer- Neftaly Malatjie

6 April 2025

Good morning, distinguished guests, fellow leaders, community champions, and vibrant young people,

It is an honour and a responsibility to address you today on this globally recognized occasion—the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

As the Chief Legal Officer of SayPro, I stand here not just as a legal practitioner, but as a guardian of rights, fairness, and justice—values that are deeply embedded in the spirit of sport and the mission of SayPro.

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Sport, Rights, and Justice

Sport is not only about winning or competition. At its heart, sport represents fair play, equality, access, and dignity. These are not only sporting principles—they are legal principles, and human rights.

When a young girl from a rural village is denied the right to play because of her gender, that’s not just unfair—it’s a violation of her rights.
When a disabled boy cannot access a field because it lacks inclusive design, that’s not just unfortunate—it’s a barrier we must dismantle.
When sports spaces are not safe from violence, bullying, or exploitation—we have failed our children.

At SayPro, we are committed to ensuring that every person—regardless of gender, race, ability, or background—has the legal and practical right to participate in sport safely, freely, and with dignity.

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Protecting Youth Through Policy and Practice

This year, through our SayPro Sport & Development Framework, we have:

• Introduced child protection policies in all community sport programmes
• Provided legal literacy workshops for coaches and young athletes
• Advocated for the right to sport access to be included in local development plans across multiple regions
• Partnered with communities to strengthen anti-discrimination and anti-harassment protections on and off the field

Legal systems may seem distant to some, but they must be accessible. They must be a shield for the vulnerable and a platform for empowerment.

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Sport as a Tool for Peaceful and Just Societies

When rules are respected, when fairness is enforced, and when justice is visible—we create safe and inclusive environments. This is true in the courtroom, and it is true on the field.

Sport teaches us the value of clear rules, mutual respect, and peaceful resolution of conflict—all foundational to building just societies.

Our young people are not just players. They are future leaders, citizens, and advocates. Through sport, we teach them not only to follow the rules—but to know their rights, to speak up, and to stand up for themselves and for others.

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A Legal Call to Action

To our policymakers:
Enshrine the right to sport and recreation in national and local laws.

To programme implementers and NGOs:
Embed safeguarding, inclusion, and accountability frameworks in every initiative.

To legal professionals:
Use your voice to ensure youth sport programmes are fair, protective, and empowering.

And to our youth:
Know this—you have the right to play, the right to be safe, and the right to be heard. We are here to protect those rights with you and for you.

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In Closing

At SayPro, we believe that sport can be a legal bridge to justice, a stage for fairness, and a field for peace.

We remain committed to ensuring that every sport-based development effort is backed by legal integrity, protected by strong frameworks, and rooted in the rights of every human being.

Let us all commit to playing by the rules that matter most—those of humanity, justice, and peace.

Ke a leboha. Ngiyabonga. Dankie. Thank you once again.

By SayPro Chief Learning & Monitoring Officer -Tsakani Rikhotso

6 April 2025

Good morning, esteemed guests, community leaders, colleagues, and most importantly—our youth,

It is both an honour and a deep responsibility to address you today on the occasion of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace—a day that celebrates more than games; it celebrates growth, resilience, and measurable progress.

As the Chief Learning and Monitoring Officer at SayPro, my role focuses on asking critical questions: What are we learning? Are we truly making an impact? Are we holding ourselves accountable for the promises we make through sport?

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Why Monitoring Matters

At SayPro, sport is more than a physical activity—it is a strategy. But like any powerful tool, it must be measured, improved, and constantly adapted. That is where learning and monitoring come in.

In 2025, our SayPro Sport & Development Program engaged over 25,000 young people across 10 regions. But what’s more important than the number is what we learned:

• That community-led sports programmes are more sustainable.
• That youth thrive when sport is linked with life skills and mentorship.
• And that peace-building is most effective when tracked, documented, and shared.

We are not just running activities. We are tracking transformation.

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Learning Through Sport

Every football match, every netball game, every training session is an opportunity to observe, reflect, and grow. Through our internal systems, SayPro collects stories, feedback, and data from the field—directly from our youth, coaches, and communities.

This helps us answer key questions:

• Are girls participating equally?
• Are rural areas receiving enough support?
• Are we reaching those most affected by conflict or poverty?

Learning is not a one-time event—it’s an ongoing journey. And we are committed to learning with humility, listening with intention, and improving with evidence.

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Accountability for Peace

Sport without accountability is just play. But when monitored and evaluated, it becomes a catalyst for real change.

That’s why SayPro is investing in tools like:

• Mobile-based feedback systems
• Real-time dashboards for programme outcomes
• And community scorecards where young people rate their own experiences

This isn’t just monitoring—it’s empowerment.

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A Call to Action

To our fellow development partners:
Let’s integrate learning and monitoring into everything we do. Let’s make impact not just visible—but verifiable.

To governments and funders:
Support data-driven sport programmes that learn as they grow, and adapt as they serve.

And to our youth:
You are not just participants. You are leaders, evaluators, and storytellers. Your experiences matter. Your feedback drives our future.

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In Closing

At SayPro, we don’t play for applause—we play for impact.
We don’t run programmes for numbers—we run them for change.
And we don’t celebrate progress only when it’s easy—we measure it, even when it’s hard.

Because true peace, like sport, is built step by step, pass by pass, voice by voice.

Thank you for believing in this mission.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
Together, let’s continue to learn, grow, and play—for a better world.

Ke a leboha. Ngiyabonga. Dankie. Thank you once again.

by SayPro Chief Technology Officer- Moses Mnisi

6 April 2025

Good morning, distinguished guests, colleagues, community leaders, and our dynamic youth,

It is a privilege to stand before you on this globally significant day—the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

As SayPro’s Chief Technology Officer, my world often revolves around code, platforms, and systems. But today, I speak from a space that transcends technology—I speak about how innovation and sport together can unlock new pathways to peace, inclusion, and empowerment.

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The Intersection of Sport and Technology

Sport is not just played on fields anymore—it is broadcast, streamed, tracked, and shared across the digital world. And just like sport, technology is a language that unites people. Whether you’re in the heart of Johannesburg or a village in Lesotho, a smartphone can connect you to the global conversation, to coaching tutorials, to mentorship networks, and to inspiration.

At SayPro, we are leveraging technology to make sport more accessible, more inclusive, and more impactful.

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Tech for Transformation

This year, SayPro has expanded our Digital Sport & Development Hub—a platform that provides youth and coaches across 10 regions with free access to:

• Online coaching materials
• Digital leadership and peace-building modules
• Real-time performance tracking for young athletes
• Safe online communities where they can connect, learn, and grow

Over 25,000 young people have benefited from these digital tools in 2025 alone. This isn’t just about access—it’s about equity. It’s about ensuring that no matter where you are or who you are, you can play, lead, and develop.

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Innovation for Inclusion and Peace

Technology is also helping us measure the real impact of sport. We use data dashboards, mobile reporting tools, and AI-driven insights to better understand what works—and where we can do better.

But more than that, tech gives youth a voice. It lets them share their stories, celebrate their achievements, and challenge injustice. A young girl sharing her netball victory on social media becomes a role model. A coach posting conflict resolution training online becomes a peace ambassador.

This is how we digitally amplify the power of sport.

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A Call to Action

To our partners in the tech industry:
Let us build more platforms, apps, and tools that empower youth through sport.

To governments and NGOs:
Support digital infrastructure in under-resourced communities so every child can participate fully.

And to our youth:
Use technology to tell your story. Use sport to shape your future. Together, these tools can drive peace where policy cannot.

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In Closing

As SayPro, we believe that the future of sport lies not just in stadiums, but in systems. Not just in teams, but in technology. And not just in tradition, but in transformation.

We remain committed to building digital bridges that connect sport to opportunity, to inclusion, and to lasting peace.

Let us continue to innovate for impact.
Let us code for change.
Let us play for peace.

Thank you.
Ke a leboha. Ngiyabonga. Dankie. Thank you once again.