Empowerment in the Lives of Peer Educators– A case study of a HIV/AIDS Sports-for-Development NGO in Lusaka, Zambia

Abstract: The literature on sport for development has expanded greatly over the past decade due to recent development trends. In particular it has enjoyed success as a peer education based preventative health strategy for many HIV/AIDS affected African countries. However, there is little research that considers the voices of the young people who are both the main beneficiaries and drivers of the approach. This thesis explored the impact and empowerment opportunities that peer educators were gaining through their participation in these programs. The research took place in a SFD non-governmental organization in Lusaka, Zambia using a case study approach. Zambia has a high prevalence rate of HIV, a bulging youth population and high levels of poverty, making it an extremely relevant research area. The thesis used an empowerment framework developed by Jo Rowlands specifically designed for marginalized groups such as youth as the theoretical backbone of the research. The findings suggest that peer educators experienced empowerment largely in social and health related areas, which however were shaped by wider realities such as culture and poverty in their lives. It also calls for a more critical look at the empowerment framework in the context of development. As with other recent authors focused on Zambia, this thesis makes the case for a more holistic multilayered approach to empowerment through encompassing wider community dynamics in SFD efforts.