“It’s like pouring water on the back of a duck,” that’s what Grandma used to say. What she meant was nothing will stick. Teaching the next generation Biblical principles can be like that sometimes. But every good teacher knows a secret. Get the students attention with something they have an interest in first.
Sports can do that. This year Y-Malawi introduced sports teams as one of our latest learning tools. Village Chiefs have organized their own teams. The teams compete with neighboring villages. They play football (soccer in the USA), netball (a game something like basketball), and volleyball. Everyone has gotten involved. Y-Malawi contributed the balls. Some teams got uniforms donated from teams in the USA. Others made their own uniforms from what they had. Chiefs dedicated plots of land for the playing fields. Now some community members are even planting grass!
After the games, everyone comes together for Bible study. Sometimes they learn about child protection practices or how to avoid gender-based violence. Sure, the games are fun, but the real value is an investment in the next generation. These young ones are the future. What they learn now will determine the future for everyone.
