INTEGRATING YOUTH, SPORT AND RECREATION IN DISASTER RISK ASSESSMENT IN BLANTYRE CITY, MALAWI

Youth in Blantyre City face increasing vulnerability to disasters such as floods and storms, which disrupt sports and recreational activities essential for physical health, social interaction, emotional well-being, and resilience building. Despite growing awareness of disaster risks, little attention has been given to how disasters affect youth recreation and recreational spaces in urban Malawi. This study assessed the impacts of disasters on sports and recreational activities among urban youth in selected townships of Blantyre City by examining how disasters affect youth participation, identifying key barriers, and exploring strategies for improving resilience. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and secondary sources. The findings revealed that floods and storms damage recreational infrastructure, disrupt access to facilities, and reduce youth participation, with recreational spaces often repurposed as evacuation centres. Crucially, the youth highlighted that maintaining sports activities was vital for managing disaster-induced psychological stress. Limited investment in climate-resilient infrastructure and weak integration of disaster risk management into urban planning further increase vulnerability. Despite these challenges, some youth adopted coping strategies such as informal recreational activities. The study concludes that sports and recreation play a vital role in promoting psychosocial recovery and youth resilience. It recommends strengthening youth participation in disaster risk reduction, investing in climate-resilient recreational infrastructure, and integrating recreation into urban resilience planning frameworks such as Malawi Vision 2063.

Youth in Blantyre City face increasing vulnerability to disasters such as floods and storms, which disrupt sports and recreational activities essential for physical health, social interaction, emotional well-being, and resilience building. This study assessed the impacts of disasters on sports and recreational activities among urban youth in selected townships of Blantyre City by examining how disasters affect youth participation, identifying key barriers, and exploring strategies for improving resilience. The findings revealed that floods and storms damage recreational infrastructure, disrupt access to facilities, and reduce youth participation, with recreational spaces often repurposed as evacuation centres. It recommends strengthening youth participation in disaster risk reduction, investing in climate-resilient recreational infrastructure, and integrating recreation into urban resilience planning frameworks such as Malawi Vision 2063.

The study was conducted in Blantyre City, Malawi’s principal commercial and industrial hub located in the Southern Region. As one of the country’s largest urban centres, Blantyre City is characterized by a diverse and rapidly growing population, as well as a wide range of recreational spaces, including football pitches, community parks, and youth centres that support youth sports and leisure activities. Despite its economic significance, the city is highly vulnerable to climate-induced hazards, including floods, storms, cyclones, and droughts. Intense rainfall events frequently result in urban flooding, which damages infrastructure and limits access to recreational facilities. In contrast, prolonged dry conditions negatively affect water-dependent amenities such as swimming pools. Furthermore, rapid urbanization, coupled with the city’s predominantly hilly terrain, exacerbates disaster risk by reducing drainage efficiency, increasing surface runoff, and placing additional pressure on already strained urban infrastructure systems. 8 INTEGRATING YOUTH, SPORT AND RECREATION IN DISASTER RISK ASSESSMENT Blantyre City was selected as the study area due to its dual characteristics as both a highly active urban Centre and a disaster-prone environment. This makes it a suitable context for examining the impacts of disasters on youth sports and recreational spaces, as well as for generating insights into strategies for enhancing resilience in similar urban settings.

Traditional authority: Blantyre City

District: Blantyre

Coordinates: -15.7955, 35.04405