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In the days and age of rampant drug abuse by young people, Shingirirayi Youth has gone on a campaign to raise awareness against drug and substance abuse through soccer tournaments in high density areas.
Shingirirayi youth, a social project aimed at forming young soccer players into responsible and disciplined youths is reaching out to various communities to raise awareness and encourage communities to work together to end the scurge.
Recently, Shingirirayi organized a soccer match with the participation of young boys from St Mary’s Chitungwiza at Dungwiza.
Almost 300 young children from 14 streets participated in the under 14 soccer match.
The Youth Promoter, Mr Svinurai Chafuka said the event was part of their drug awareness campaign which fulfills their mission to journey with the youth, which is also part of the Jesuit’s Universal Apostolic preferences.
“We aim to journey with the children and youth in Zimbabwe, improve their quality of life through a holistic approach so we are running this campaign.”
Instead of basic football chanters, the children chanted anti-drug abuse songs.
Shingirirayi Youth categorizes their teams using ages, the junior teams and the senior teams.
The junior team comprises of children from the age of six to 18, whilst the senior teams have 18 to 30 years.
The Promoter said they work with boys from six years to 30, as they feel that they are the most active in drug and substance abuse.
Shingirirayi is working with youths from the high density suburbs of Harare, Chitungwiza, Chinhoyi, Alaska, Lion’s den, Banket, Murombedzi, Kariba and Chegutu.
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