International Kids Play Day: Tracy Evans urges Rwandan Youth to tackle Mental Health through Sports

On Friday, June 20, 2025, Rwanda celebrated the Kids Play International Day.

Held at Amahoro National Stadium in Remera, Kigali City, attended by the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee President, Umulinga Alice, along with the Secretary General, Mr. Kajangwe Joseph.

Various National Sports Federations leaders, including the President of the Rwanda Handball Federation, Twahirwa Alfred, the President of the Rugby Federation, Kamanda Tharcisse and Nizeyimana Isabelle, President of ANPSF [Association Nationale pour la Promotion du Sport Féminin] are among invitees.

Kids Play International Day was marked by various sports activities aimed at bringing joy to children through sports. These activities brought together children with disabilities and non-disabled.

The event was also attended by former Rwandan Olympians.

Aimed using sport to equip Young people with the Mental strength tools to become Champions in life, this Day graced by Kids Play International founder, American Tracy Evans-Land, a three-time Winter Olympian in freestyle skiing aerials.

Started working in Rwanda at rural Gatagara community in 2010, Kids Play International aimed to empower young people through sports and recreation.

Their main focus is to use power of play and sport to teach important life skills, foster community development, and promote gender equality.

Speaking about the reason that led her to come work in Rwanda, Tracy Evans-Land said:“First of all, I was inspired by the resilience of women who survived the Genocide against Tutsi's in Rwanda in 1994”.

“Kids Play International – Rwanda programmes combine sport with a structured plan of educational sessions and mental health tools to teach teamwork, leadership and emotional resilience. To date, the programme includes more than 2,200 community members”.

“I wanted to see how the Olympic values and everything they have taught me about excellence, friendship and respect could be integrated into a curriculum to help shift attitudes and give everybody the same opportunities,”, She added

She concluded by saying that:“Gender equity can deconstruct segregation and promote the integration of populations so that all human rights are respected. Sport is a powerful conduit to promote healthier lives both physically and mentally, challenging harmful norms and building better relationships”.

Kids Play International – Rwanda is one of the 10 projects receiving additional funding from the IOC in support of international projects initiated through the Impact 2024 international programme of Paris 2024 and the French Development Agency (AFD), and expanding its legacy beyond the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Kids Play International – Rwanda is one of the 42 initiatives within a portfolio of projects supported by the IOC through Olympism365 that focuses on using sport to improve people’s physical, mental and social health and their well-being, while also supporting them in finding a community in and through sport.

Trough Evans-Land efforts, Kids Play International – Rwanda is one of the 42 initiatives within a portfolio of projects supported by the IOC through Olympism365 that focuses on using sport to improve people’s physical, mental and social health and their well-being, while also supporting them in finding a community in and through sport.

Photos

Founder of Kids Play International – Rwanda, Tracy Evans-Land

Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee President, Umulinga Alice