Commonwealth Games Canada builds IDS capacity in Africa and the Caribbean

OTTAWA, Aug. 30, 2010: Commonwealth Games Canada’s International Development through Sport (IDS) unit is broadening its impact throughout the Commonwealth with the appointment, for the first time, of two National on-site Programs and Partnership Officers in Africa and the Caribbean.

Mahae Mokhehle, who hails from Lesotho in southern Africa, and Andre Collins, a native of Trinidad & Tobago, will represent Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) in their respective regions. They will be responsible for supporting the development and implementation of country-specific and regional programs on behalf of Commonwealth Games Canada, as well as developing strong partnerships both regionally and internationally.

"Commonwealth Games Canada is delighted to welcome these dynamic individuals to our International Development through Sport team," says Thomas Jones, CEO of Commonwealth Games Canada. "Both have demonstrated a strong commitment to international development of and through sport, and have the skills and experience necessary to do an outstanding job in helping further the objectives of IDS in their respective regions."

Since 2006, Mokhehle has worked as National Project Coordinator for the OlympAfrica Youth Ambassador Program (OYAP), a Commonwealth Games Canada partner program within the Lesotho National Olympic Committee. She has also acted as a national and regional facilitator for Kicking AIDS Out, another CGC partner. "Through my work with OYAP in Lesotho, I have met so many inspiring young leaders from across Africa who have been part of the programs supported by Commonwealth Games Canada," says Mokhehle, who will be based in Cape Town, South Africa. "I am thrilled that I will now have the opportunity to contribute to these sport development programs across the continent and help make them even better."

Collins, who will be based in San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago, is a co-founder of the Trinidad & Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education (TTASPE), a Commonwealth Games Canada partner organization committed to the development of people and communities through the use of sport and physical education. In 2009, Collins participated in the first ever South2North internship program in Ottawa with CGC while studying for his Masters in Sport for Development at the University of Trinidad & Tobago, where he is also a Lecturer in the Sport Studies program. "I hope that through my involvement, and with CGC support, we can see a more integrated and purposeful approach to development through and of sport in the Caribbean region," Collins says. "My role will be to establish strong partnerships with like-minded agencies in the region to sustain the activities that will support development through sport."

International Development through Sport, a unit of Commonwealth Games Canada, integrates the development of sport with development through sport activities to build national sport system capacity and promote community and social development throughout the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. Led by its volunteer Board and supported by professional staff, CGC is committed to strengthening sport in Canada and throughout the Commonwealth.

For more information, please contact:

Carla Thachuk
Manager of International Programs
Commonwealth Games Canada
120 - 2255 Boul St. Laurent Blvd.
Ottawa (Ontario) K1G 4K3
Tel: 613-244-6868 x 225
Fax: 613-244-6826
Carla@commonwealthgames.ca