Effect of OYDC Zambia Sport Development Centre on Youth Development

Abstract

This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the impact of sports facilities on youth development, focusing on the OYDC Zambia Sports Development Centre in Zambia. The specific objectives included assessing community integration, evaluating the effectiveness of sports facilities, identifying key interventions contributing to youth development, and examining the influence of socio-economic, cultural, and geographical factors. The study employed a mixed research approach, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods. The research design adopted was a concurrent triangulation design. 100 participants were purposively sampled for data collection. SPSS v27 was used for descriptive data analysis. The qualitative data underwent narrative analysis. The findings revealed a robust sense of belonging, shared identity, and active community engagement among OYDC participants. Sports facilities were perceived positively, contributing to physical fitness, skill development, and overall well-being, aligning with existing literature. Targeted interventions, such as inclusive programs, skills training, and mentoring, received high acclaim, emphasizing their role in optimizing positive developmental outcomes. The study identified a moderate influence of socio-cultural and geographic factors, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to ensure inclusivity and equitable access in youth sports programming. In conclusion, this study affirms the potential of well designed sports programs to positively impact youth development at OYDC. It recommends that OYDC persists in investing in high-quality sports facilities, enhances existing successful interventions, introduces targeted initiatives to address barriers, implements ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and advocates for increased national support for youth sports programming. Keywords: Youth Development, Community Integration, Cultural Factors, Geographical Factors