Sport has been a transformative tool in the life of Jabu Mtwa, a young South African and member of the 2023–2026 cohort of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Young Leaders Programme. His commitment to youth development through sport led him to found the Ithuba Lethu Sports Centre, a non-profit organization focused on training new generations to seize the opportunities offered by the growing sports industry in Africa. This initiative reflects the spirit of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, celebrated every April 6, and is part of a broader strategy driven by the IOC to build a better world through sport.
Mtwa discovered the power of this social tool when, at the age of 20, he co-founded a community football club in Johannesburg. There, he came face to face with a harsh reality: many young people attended training not just out of passion, but because they had no other alternatives in the face of unemployment. Moved by this situation, he began to explore sport’s potential as a platform to fight the youth employment crisis. Years later, his vision took shape with the creation of the Ithuba Lethu Sports Hub, which combines education, mentorship, and professional training to open new doors for African youth.
Sport, development, and the future
“Sport can be a true catalyst for social transformation,” says Mtwa, who sees the African sports industry as a path to address one of the continent’s greatest challenges: youth unemployment. With a population expected to double by 2050 and an economy that is growing steadily, Mtwa highlights the urgency of connecting these trends with real opportunities for professional development. That’s why the Sports Hub not only promotes athletic practice, but also teaches about careers on and off the field, helping young people discover alternative paths toward employability.
Through workshops like the ones held in March 2025, in which more than 60 young people participated, Mtwa and his team aim to plant confidence, knowledge, and ambition in the new generations. With support from the IOC Young Leaders Programme, which has provided him with training, funding, and access to a global network, Mtwa plans to expand his project through educational partnerships such as the one established with the Nova Pioneer Group. For him, sport not only unites, inspires, and mobilizes—it also holds the power to secure Africa’s future by offering a platform from which young people can build a better life.
