By SayPro Chief Human Capital Officer- Ms. Sinentlantal Mabusela
Honourable Guests, Esteemed Partners, SayPro Team Members, and Change-Makers Around the World,
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening – wherever you may be joining us from today.
On behalf of SayPro and as your Chief Human Capital Officer, it is both a privilege and a profound honour to stand before you today as we commemorate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
This is not just another day on the calendar.
Today, we unite under a global banner to recognize sport as a universal language – one that transcends borders, speaks to all ages, overcomes cultural divides, and most importantly, has the power to drive development and build peace.
🕊️ Sport: A Catalyst for Change
From the dusty soccer fields in townships to the running tracks of global stadiums, sport has proven to be more than just a game. It is:
- A classroom of discipline and resilience.
- A stage for inclusion and empowerment.
- A field of hope, peace, and transformation.
At SayPro, we believe in people. We believe in unlocking human potential through capacity building, community empowerment, and innovative programmes – and we know that sport is one of our most powerful tools in this mission.
Whether it’s through structured sports initiatives for youth, inclusive play programmes for persons with disabilities, or leadership training through team games, we see sport not just as recreation, but as a platform to teach life skills, promote mental well-being, and build peaceful societies.
🌍 Our Human Capital, Our Future
In my role as Chief Human Capital Officer, I am reminded every day that development is not just about systems, infrastructure, or budgets. It’s about people. It’s about investing in human capital so individuals can flourish, communities can thrive, and nations can prosper.
Sport teaches what no textbook can fully explain:
Teamwork. Perseverance. Fair play. Conflict resolution. Confidence. These are the soft skills of tomorrow’s leaders.
And these are the qualities we are cultivating in every SayPro programme – in every corner of South Africa, across Africa, and globally.
💪🏾 Commitment to Equity, Inclusion, and Peace
We stand committed to ensuring that sport is accessible to all, especially the marginalized – girls, refugees, children in conflict zones, those living with disabilities, and the youth facing the harsh realities of poverty.
Sport is not a luxury. It is a right.
And at SayPro, it is also a strategy for sustainable development.
We are proud to work with schools, NGOs, governments, and corporate partners to embed sport in our training, wellness, education, and peacebuilding initiatives.
🔔 A Call to Action
Let us not wait for conflict to remind us of the value of peace.
Let us not wait for isolation to appreciate unity.
Let us, today, commit ourselves to building stronger, safer, and more resilient communities through sport.
To our young leaders: Your voice matters. Your play matters. Keep showing up on the field and off.
To our partners: Keep investing in programmes that use sport to inspire.
And to all of you: Let’s continue to run this race together – toward a world of justice, equality, and peace.
🌟 In Closing
As Nelson Mandela once said, “Sport has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.”
So let’s be inspired. Let’s be united. Let’s continue to develop people, empower futures, and build peace – one game, one goal, one generation at a time.
Thank you.
Peace and progress to all.