By Favour Nnabugwu

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), a leading global corporate insurance carrier and a key business unit of Allianz Group, has launched the Allianz MoveNow program to support and strengthen young people by facilitating access and offering opportunities to become and stay active.

The mission which was launched today in South Africa, is to prepare the next generation for the future by moving their body, mind and soul.

Hosted at Diepdale Secondary School in Soweto, the Allianz MoveNow program saw over 1400 young people from Soweto attend a career expo and participate in a football and netball challenge

Allianz has and continues to work with Diepdale since 2017 through programs such as the Allianz Maths and Science Centre, the Saturday School Program and the remedial program to improve educational outcomes. The matric pass rate was only 58.9% then but now averages 80%.

Chief Executive Officer of AGCS South Africa, Thusang Mahlangu says: “We at Allianz understand that it’s not a given for everyone to be confident in tomorrow, having a positive outlook about their own well-being and future perspective.

However, we are convinced of a positive effect of sport on body, mind and soul. Therefore, we are proud to introduce the Allianz MoveNow program to get young people moving again so that they are ready for tomorrow.”

“We are also preparing the learners for life beyond high school through the career expo as education is our key social responsibility focus area. We firmly believe that access to high quality education creates a knowledge-based economy and in that way making the biggest sustainable impact on communities,” adds Thusang.

Allianz is confident that regular sport activity will have a high impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of the learners. That’s why the insurer partnered with former Banyana Banyana Captain and football legend Portia Modise and retired international netballer and coach Dumisani Chauke to lead the Allianz MoveNow Camp, which saw Diepdale Secondary School compete with Fidelitas Comprehensive School in a football and netball challenge.

Using skills and tricks learned from Portia, Diepdale Secondary School were crowned champions of the Allianz MoveNow Camp football challenge with a 6 – 5 penalty shootout victory against Fidelitas Comprehensive School after a 2 all draw at full time. Coached by Dumisani, Fidelitas Comprehensive School won the netball challenge after scoring 25 goals against Diepdale Secondary School.

Overall both coaches were impressed with the level of football and netball potential from the schools and encouraged the learners to work consistently hard in sport and in education to achieve their goals in life.

As Official Worldwide Insurance Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, Allianz has teamed up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to strengthen the role of sport in society to create a healthier environment for young people.

With the Allianz MoveNow program, Allianz commits to move people of the next generation across the globe through 24 initiatives in the upcoming months until the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024.

The program picks up on many sport activations and festivals Allianz has conducted over the last years and includes initiatives like youth camps, sports activities and digital events such as a fitness series with the IPC launching later this year.