Tegla Loroupe joins AUSC ‘Keep Moving’ campaign as Ambassador
Former world marathon record holder and renowned global spokeswoman for peace, women’s rights and education, Tegla Loroupe, has joined the African Union Sport’s Council’s (AUSC) “Keep Moving” campaign.
Launched on 21 October 2024 on the commemoration of Africa Human Rights Day, the “Keep Moving” campaign aims to educate, inspire, empower and advocate for safe, equitable and inclusive sporting environments at all levels and in all sporting codes, as outlined in the AUSC Strategic Plan 2024-2028 Priority Area 2 which speaks to Equity and Inclusion in and through sports.
Loroupe, who is substantively the Ambassador for the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, a foundation dedicated to bringing peace in conflict zones through the power of sport, said that she was honoured to join the “movement” because as a citizen of the continent, it was every African’s duty to serve in capacities which enhanced humanity and reinforced the participation of women and girls in sporting activities.
Loroupe highlighted that had she not been given the opportunity to partake in sport, she would never have been in a position to try make a difference through sport and expressed that she would like to use this platform to reach out the youth about the dangers of drug abuse.
AUSC Coordinator, Dr. Decius Chipande, expressed the organisation’s excitement and gratitude to Loroupe for joining forces with the campaign, stating that her presence would amplify the leadership, voice and visibility of the initiative as guided in the pillars of the African Union Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Strategy 2018-2028.
The AUSC’s “Keep Moving” campaign is a continent-wide movement seeking to empower women, girls and persons with disabilities across Africa to participate in sport, and reap the many physical, social and psychological benefits that sport offers.
The campaign is being rolled out on social media, as well as via editorial media channels, offering inspiration as well as giving educators and sports bodies the opportunity to access posters, videos and other educational resources related to sport for development.
Anchored in content pillars such as inspiration, education, safe sport, inclusive sport, gender equality, unity and storytelling, the campaign encourages Africans to harness the power of sport to “Keep Moving” towards “the Africa We Want”, as articulated in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 development blueprint.
