Dream Girl Foundation founder Nothando Magwaza is a sports enthusiast who has the vision to empower young girls and women through sport. EnterSportNews reporter Stephen Kandlela hooked up with the seasoned sports administrator to get more insight about the Foundation’s activities. Below are the excerpts from the interview.
Q: What motivated you to start Dream Girl Foundation?
A: I was inspired by the desire to empower young girls and women through sports. As you are aware that the world is dynamic, gone are the days when a girl was just limited to so-called ‘female jobs’. In sport, there are now careers that women can venture into such as coaching, refereeing, team managers, sports administration, to mention just a few. Dream Girl Foundation seeks to present sport as a career path that our girls can look into.
Q: In Zimbabwe do you have any role models who have excelled in sports (women)?
A: We have several celebrated sportswomen such as Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Kirsty Coventry, Anna Mguni (Zimbabwe Olympic Committee), Yvonne Mangunda ( sports journalist) and Rose Mugadza ( Mighty Warriors). These women have shown us that it is possible to pursue a career in sport and earn a living from it.
Q: What is the long term plan for dream Girl Foundation?
A: My organisation wishes to create platforms for the growth of young girls in sports. As they are growing, sport must be embroidered in their minds. Through sport, they can be exposed to career building, life-changing networks and opportunities. Some institutions offer scholarships through sport.
Q: As Dream Girl Foundation, do you offer any contribution to women’s national teams?
A: Yes, the Foundation assists with fundraising for young girls and women teams who want to participate in national, regional or continental tournaments. We also conduct sport development programmes such as coaching clinics.
Q: Finally, as Dream Girl Foundation, what is your appeal to the nation of Zimbabwe?
A: We are seeking partners to join hands with us to make this dream a reality. The foundation is open to membership and the fee is currently $10 per annum. Volunteers are also welcome on board.
