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Team
The Nyawa United Team.
The Nyawa United team came together in 2019, when Amy, Anette and Sandra worked together with Annet and Amon in Zambia. Patience joined the team as a volunteer in 2022. Under a mango tree sheltering from the scorching African sun in January 2019, Annet came up with the idea of sending a girls' team to Norway Cup. The rest is history.
Co-founder
Amy-Kristine Andersen
Amy-Kristine Andersen worked in Zambia from August 2018 to February 2020 on a project raising awareness on gender-based violence in rural and urban areas in the Southern Province.
She has a strong commitment towards human rights and gender equality and has worked for several international organisations.
Amy holds an MSc in Globalisation and Development from SOAS University of London and a BA Hons in International Relations from The University of Nottingham.
Co-founder
Annet Sonko
Annet Sonko is an Ugandan citizen, a teacher, and a passionate advocate in sports for development, with a special focus on girls' participation and leadership in sports.
Previously, Annet has worked with CHRISC Uganda between 2008 - 2014 as a Coordinator for HIV/AIDS.
She is currently working as a Sports Coordinator at Response Network. Annet holds a BSc degree in Project Management from the Victoria Falls University, Zambia.
Co-founder
Amon Kasweka
Amon Kasweka is a Zambian citizen. He was part of the Youth Sports Exchange Program to Norway in 2012. He strongly believes that sports work as a tool to sharpen the lives of youths through movement and activity, games and sports drills. In addition, sports are an important arena to address issues such as gender-based violence (GBV), HIV/AIDS, sports misconduct and other health related issues.
Amon has studied Sports Science and has acquired wider knowledge and skills on sports for development and has a strong belief in the self-help approach.
Co-founder
Sandra Instebø
Sandra worked in Zambia from 2018 until 2019. During her stay she established a self-help Women’s Group, focusing on teaching the females English, in addition to physical activity. Sandra has a deep interest in sports and developing people’s physical, as well as mental health.
In 2017, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Acting, and has been involved in smaller film and tv-series projects in Norway and abroad. She loves working with children and has produced her own children’s theatre play.
Co-founder
Anette Kristoffersen
Anette Kristoffersen was part of the Youth Sports Exchange Program from 2018-2019 in Zambia. She has been working to promote gender equality and the rights of women and girls, specifically through sports programs and community engagement. Her experience includes over 10 years at Norway Cup, as well as a group leader for the Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games in 2016.
Anette holds an MA in Sport and International Development from the University of Brighton, and a BA in International Relations with History from the Lillehammer University College.
Volunteer
Patience Sitali
Patience is from the rural village Mambova, in the Kazungula District in the Southern Province of Zambia. In 2018 she was selected as to be a sports volunteer at Response Network. She went on a Youth Sports Exchange program to Malawi in 2019 to facilitate sport activities. Part of the training was done in Norway.
Patience is certified in psychosocial counseling. Being a sports woman herself, she says that when dealing with challenges, being a counselor helps talking about issues like child abuse, mental health problems, couple counseling, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling.