In Namibia, youth sports development depends mainly on government support, sponsorships, and donations. While these sources are important, they are often not enough and are not always consistent. Many young people, especially in rural constituencies, are left without proper facilities, equipment, and opportunities to develop their talent.

In my view, Namibia needs a new approach that is community-driven. I propose the introduction of a monthly community contribution fund to support youth sports development in each constituency of the country. This idea is guided by the African saying: “it takes the whole village to raise a child.” In the context of youth sport, this means that the development of young people is not the responsibility of government alone, but of the entire community, including families, leaders, businesses, and institutions working together to support them.

The idea is simple. Local residents in each constituency can contribute a small amount of money every month into a common sports fund. This can be as little as N$10 to N$50 per month, depending on what individuals can afford. The aim is not to burden households, but to encourage shared responsibility for youth development. Businesses and local companies can also contribute more if they wish to support young people in sport.

Each constituency should establish a properly structured committee to manage the fund. This committee should include youth representatives, teachers, community leaders, and sports officials. Their responsibility would be to collect, manage, and distribute the funds in a transparent and fair manner. Regular financial reports must be shared with the community to ensure accountability and build trust. This reflects the same principle of the saying, because the whole “village” must also be responsible for how resources are managed.

The money collected can be used for important needs such as sports equipment, local leagues, transport for teams, and maintenance of sports fields. Small allowances can also be given to coaches and referees who support youth development. In this way, the entire community actively contributes to raising young athletes, just as the proverb suggests.

The role of the media is also very important in fulfilling this African saying. Local and national media should actively cover community-based sports events, tournaments, and youth leagues. By doing this, the media helps to give visibility and recognition to young athletes and community efforts. Media coverage encourages more community involvement, attracts potential sponsors, and builds pride in local sport. In this way, the media becomes part of the “village” that helps to raise and support the child by promoting and strengthening youth sport development.

This idea is not new in Africa. Several countries already use community-based approaches to support sport and youth development.

In Kenya, community sports clubs rely heavily on local contributions and membership fees to run football teams and organise grassroots leagues, especially in rural areas. This reflects communities acting together as the “village” that supports young athletes.

In South Africa, township sports teams and school sports programmes are often supported through community donations, local businesses, and municipal partnerships. This shared effort shows how communities can collectively raise and develop young people through sport.

In Ghana, football academies and grassroots clubs depend on a combination of parental support, community fundraising, and small sponsorships to cover training, transport, and equipment costs. Again, this reflects the principle that the whole community must contribute to youth development.

In Nigeria, grassroots football is strongly supported through community-based clubs where local contributions and volunteer involvement play a key role in sustaining youth competitions. This shows the power of collective responsibility in developing young talent. These African examples show that community involvement in sports funding is already working in different forms. They prove that youth sports development does not always need to depend only on government funding. Instead, communities, together with the media and other stakeholders, can play a direct role in building and sustaining sport at grassroots level.

The benefits of this approach are clear. It will create a steady and reliable source of funding for youth sports. It will reduce dependence on government funding alone. It will strengthen community ownership and unity. Most importantly, it puts into practice the meaning of the saying “it takes the whole village to raise a child,” because everyone-including the media-has a role to play in shaping and supporting young people’s futures. Over time, it can help identify and develop more sporting talent across all constituencies in Namibia.

However, challenges must also be considered. Some people may not trust how funds are managed, while others may struggle to contribute due to financial difficulties. To solve this, transparency, regular reporting, and strong community oversight are essential. The media must also play a watchdog role by reporting fairly and consistently on how these funds and sports activities are managed.

In conclusion, a community monthly sports fund is a realistic and practical solution for Namibia. If properly managed, it can transform youth sports development at grassroots level. More importantly, it places communities at the centre of developing their own young people. When communities, leaders, businesses, and the media act together as one village, the future of sport in Namibia becomes stronger and more sustainable

Absalom Kamutjemo is a resident of Epako, Gobabis.

akamutjemo@yahoo.com