Having been founded as a mere cricket academy, which sought to give opportunities to kids from disadvantaged background in the small town of Marondera and its surrounding areas, Hokima Cricket Academy has now grown beyond the cricket fields.
The cricket academy has now become a vehicle for social change among youths, using sport as a tool for transformation.
Founder of Hokima Cricket Academy, Kudzai Mutiti told The Sports Hub that the academy seeks to play a transformative role in the community.
“As Hokima Cricket Academy we believe in the transformative power of sport not just within the boundaries of the cricket field but in the wider community," Mutiti said.
“While it is our primary goal and objective to introduce cricket to young kids and foster their athletic development as an academy we also understand that sport goes far beyond that.
“Sport is a powerful tool for social change, many young people in our community face the risk of falling into destructive behavior such as drug abuse due to lack of positive outlets and structured environment.
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“As an academy we want to offer an alternative system, and also provide a safe space where youth in the whole community can focus on personal development, youth discipline, and form strong bonds with mentors and peers.”
As part of its initiative to play a part in the social development in August Hokima Cricket Academy held a golf day with the proceeds of the fundraising going towards the construction of cricket net, setting up of ablution facilities and drilling a borehole at the academy premises in Marondera.
“We had a successful golf day in August in which the proceeds from the day went to the community,” Mutiti said.
Following the successful hosting of the golf day, Hokima Cricket has since lined up activities which seek to promote social development in Marondera and its surroundings.
“The success of the golf day and the community caravan reflect the strength of our community, and highlight what we can achieve when people come together.
“It's not just about the competition or the event itself, it's about the relationships formed, the personal milestone achieved, and the community pride, and that growth is a result.
“At Hokima Cricket Academy we are committed to ensuring that our efforts go beyond introducing cricket to kids to aim to individualise kids from communities, and provide a platform for positive change.
“We are leveraging the power of sport to create a really lasting impact on the community,” Mutiti said.