Mary Waya encourages women to pursue sports leadership in Malawi

Mary Waya, the Deputy Director of Sports at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, has called on women to volunteer within sports associations to gain the experience necessary for leadership roles. Speaking at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Waya emphasized that volunteering allows women to build recognition, develop administrative skills, and prepare for future positions in sports management.

The remarks were made during the graduation of 51 women from the third cohort of the Women in Sports Leadership Programme. Launched in June under the Sport for All initiative, the programme aims to equip women with the confidence and knowledge required to occupy leadership positions in sports associations throughout Malawi.

Graduates, including Vanessa Phiri of the Malawi Defence Force, noted that the programme has increased their confidence to pursue administrative roles. Phiri expressed intentions to share her training with female colleagues at Kamuzu Barracks to encourage broader participation in sports leadership.