By James Alomu

SOROTI — Camp St. Mary’s has launched a football initiative aimed at using sport as a platform to address drug abuse, hopelessness and other social challenges affecting young people in the community.

The initiative was launched through a football match between Camp St. Mary’s and Otucopi FC, which ended in a 2–2 draw. Organisers said the project goes beyond competition by creating opportunities for young people to build relationships, develop their talents and discuss issues affecting their lives.

During the launch, Camp St. Mary’s donated 30 football jerseys, 30 pairs of football boots, socks and footballs to support the participating players.

Rev. Fr. Pius Richard Okiria, founder of Camp St. Mary’s, said football was selected because of its ability to attract young people and provide an entry point for conversations about education, careers, personal development and other social issues.

Fr. Okiria, who grew up in the area before moving to the United States in 2001, spent 25 years in the US but said he remained concerned about the challenges facing young people in his community.

He said Camp St. Mary’s was established to give young people an opportunity to dream, develop their abilities and gain the confidence needed to contribute positively to society.

“That’s why we set up this Centre to try to help our young people to dream, not just to dream, to have big dreams, and to do things that can change our society,” he said.

Fr. Okiria said his personal experience with football also influenced his decision to make the sport a central part of the initiative.

He recalled his work in Wera in the late 1990s during a period of rebellion, saying football helped bring soldiers and communities together and contributed to peace.

“I value soccer. It could be an entry point to talking to young people about other issues. So that’s why we’re starting this team,” he said.

Fr. Okiria said the initiative comes at a time when drug abuse is affecting young people in the community. He attributed some of the problem to a lack of hope and opportunities among young people, saying some had turned to drugs as a way of coping with difficulties in their lives.

“Our community is being ravaged by the infection of drugs and a lot of young people because of lack of hope and a future, they’ve taken to drugs as a way of numbing maybe whatever problems they have in life,” he said.

He warned that drug use could undermine young people's futures and urged the players to remain disciplined and stay away from drugs.

The issue is expected to feature prominently at a youth conference planned for December, which is expected to bring together about 100 young people for discussions aimed at inspiring them and helping them address challenges affecting their lives.

Fr. Okiria said young people need more than physical activities, stressing the importance of spiritual and emotional support in helping them develop confidence and pursue their goals.

Camp St. Mary’s is also developing a spiritual garden featuring a large cross of Jesus and a grotto for prayer. Fr. Okiria said the project is intended to contribute to the healing of communities affected by the consequences of years of war and conflict.

Rev. Fr. Silver Opio said the football project forms part of a broader Camp St. Mary’s vision focused on social, spiritual and material transformation.

He said the initiative should not be viewed merely as a football competition but as an opportunity to strengthen relationships and encourage young people to take responsibility for their communities.

“Camp St. Mary’s has a bigger vision about impacting life from social, spiritual and material point of view,” he said.

Fr. Opio challenged the players to think beyond football and identify other ways they could support one another and improve their communities. He said Camp St. Mary’s planned to follow up with the participating teams to support their continued development.

He also urged the clubs to engage in community service, saying football should be accompanied by efforts to improve the lives of people in the communities from which the players come.

Soroti District Community Development Officer Jonah Egwayu welcomed the initiative, saying it could provide young people with constructive ways to spend their time.

Egwayu said some young people spend significant amounts of time involved in unproductive activities, making programmes that bring them together for positive activities important.

He added that organised youth activities can also provide an avenue for connecting young people to government programmes and services.

Soroti District Sports Officer Elayu Samuel said sports have significant benefits but remain underdeveloped in many communities.

He said talent identification and development had often been neglected despite the potential of sports to provide social, psychological, intellectual, physical and economic benefits.

Elayu urged the players to maintain discipline, noting that some had argued with referees during the match. He also called on them to make proper use of the equipment provided by Camp St. Mary’s.

He said sports should be used to unite communities rather than create divisions and encouraged young people to view sport as an opportunity for personal growth and economic development.

The Camp St. Mary’s football project seeks to use the popularity of football to address issues beyond the pitch, including drug abuse, youth hopelessness, talent development, discipline and community engagement.

Through football, the planned youth conference, community service and spiritual programmes, Camp St. Mary’s hopes to create a platform where young people can find support, discover their abilities and be

come more actively involved in improving their communities.