Empowering athletes: Athlete365 workshop hosted
Discover what drives you
The Athlete365 Career+ workshops are designed to provide advice to athletes on how to navigate their career beyond sport.
The Namibia Athletes Commission (NAC) hosted a two-day Athlete365 Career+ Self Discovery and CV/Résumé workshop at Arebbusch Travel Lodge in Windhoek over the past weekend. Kady Kanouté Tounkara, chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s education committee and co-captain of the first Malian women’s basketball team to qualify for the Olympic Games, presented the workshop, which was supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Athletes from across the country benefitted from a fully packed two-day programme focused on self-discovery and creating an attractive résumé.
Upskilling
The self-discovery session helped athletes make professional decisions by encouraging development and self-awareness. Whatever stage of their career they are in now, taking the time to reflect on who they are and what they want from life can help them in the future.
The attendees learned how to write an effective CV and cover letter that are customised for the job they are applying for. Athletes also learned how to "rise above the competition," determine what works and what doesn't while creating a CV, and highlight their strengths in order to acquire as many opportunities as possible in their job search.
Maike Diekmann, chair of the Namibia Sports Commission, said: "Thirty athletes from all over the country joined the workshop to learn some skills and hopefully assist them in finding a job after their sporting life."
Success
"Happy to be in Namibia for a great session with very confident and engaged elite athletes determined to succeed on and off the field of play. I am grateful for the opportunity to provide them with the tools and motivation to succeed," Kady wrote on social media.
The IOC Athletes' Commission has supported more than 56 000 athletes worldwide as they prepare for their transition from sports to other careers through the Athlete365 Career+ project.
"I learned about self-awareness and career guidance. What you can do after athletics, your input to society, and what you can do to generate income. I encourage my fellow athletes to attend this workshop next time because it’s an icebreaker and an eye-opening experience," middle distance athlete, Aantuyonena Simon, said.
The vice chair of the Namibia Sports Commission, Romeo Goliath, said the workshop had a fantastic turnout. "We had athletes from all over the country, including Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, Lüderitz, as well as Otapi. We had para-Olympians who participated in the workshop too."