Zak Tadesse from Birmingham was unemployed and struggling with low confidence after finishing university in 2019. Joining Sport 4 Life as a participant, he rebuilt his self-esteem through sport and social action projects during the pandemic, became an award-winning volunteer and is now an employee, leading Levelling the Playing Field sport sessions and employability workshops. He knows the journey his participants are on because he’s lived it himself.
“No-one goes through teenage life with flying colours and without any difficulties. You go through all these emotions and you doubt yourself,” says Zak.
“I've gone through the process myself, so seeing young people improve from being shy, lacking confidence and move to a different stage of their life is amazing to see. That's why I continue to work with Sport 4 Life.”
When he first arrived at Sport 4 Life, Zak had just completed a Sports Therapy degree, but had no work experience or solid idea what to do next. They put him on a Sports Leaders qualification and assigned him mentoring support.
He then started to volunteer at Sport 4 Life sport sessions, before leading on a food bank initiative during lockdown and supporting a local community garden. He now leads the charity’s Social Action committee and has worked his way up into a paid role, leading sports sessions in the community and in schools. Last year, he was named on Anthony Joshua’s JD Foundation Champs Honours List.
“With the Social Action project, that really helped me,” says Zak. “You get to meet a lot of different types of people at different stage of their life and you don't feel left out. You feel like, 'It's not just me [going through this].'
“The support you have from the Sport 4 Life mentors, that really helped me out. You get some structure to your life and if you have any problems – like you need sport opportunities, qualifications or financial support that will help you in later life – they are willing to help you.”
Sport 4 Life are a Levelling the Playing Field local delivery partner in the West Midlands. They use sport as a ‘hook’ to engage young people and guide them towards sustained education, employment or training. In 2019, 79% of their beneficiaries were from ethnically diverse backgrounds and 15-20% had an offending history. They are therefore perfectly equipped to help us achieve our common goals:
- Increase the number of ethnically diverse children taking part in sport and physical activity
- Prevent and divert ethnically diverse children from being involved with the Criminal Justice System
Although the organisation use sport as a gateway into better life prospects for young people, the sport provision itself teaches participants valuable life lessons. Zak explains: “Sport is the hook, but it gives young people a lot of transferable skills they can use in different parts of their life – communication, problem-solving, self-management, self-belief... they can take those things to the job market or to universities.
“As a Sport 4 Life staff member, you can also use sport to show them time management, for example, or the importance of decision making. I like to give young people responsibilities that match their levels of confidence and ability. For example, I’ll make one of them the referee in a game of football. This can increase their self-confidence and concentration and put them ‘on their game’.
Above: Zak volunteers at a Sport 4 Life food bank during the Covid-19 lockdown
“In my role, helping young people makes you feel like you have a responsibility to improve them. Volunteering and working for Sport 4 Life develops all different types of skills almost without you realising it. It helps you internally; helps you grow as a person.”
Zak adds: “It’s amazing to see young people grow in confidence. I love seeing the difference in a young, shy person through the first, second and third week and it's just improving all the time.
“It took me a long time, and I learned the best ways to communicate as I went along, but I have built up good relationships with the young people. When I see them in town we’re always smiling at me and they want to know when the next session is going to be.
“Where they are now, I have been there. I'm enjoying changing young people's perspectives and supporting their ambitions. Ultimately, I want to get them to a better place, like where I am now.”