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Tottenham coaches attend launch of new Empowerment Project in Cape Town
In June 2011, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation coaches Karen Hills and Olivia Worsfold delivered a two-day coaching clinic to 30 women involved in Coaching for Hope’s new Empowerment of Women and Girls Through Football projects.
During their 10-day trip to Cape Town, Karen and Olivia visited the six communities taking part in the project, which was launched last month, and mentored local female coaches. They also shared their experience with Coaching for Hope staff and provided valuable advice on the project’s next steps.
The Tottenham Hotspur brand is extremely powerful in engaging and motivating people, and in creating an atmosphere of excitement and optimism. Coaching for Hope development worker Lucy Mills said: “Many children were awe-struck at seeing the Tottenham Hotspur logo on Karen and Olivia’s tracksuits; men and women alike stopped them in the street to discuss football. Karen and Olivia were fantastic role models, proving that women can be experts in football.”
The project is supported by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, The English FA and the City of Cape Town.
First volunteers arrive in Cape Town for action-packed ICS placements
On 6th June 2011, the first group of Skillshare International’s volunteers arrived in Cape Town eager to start their three-month International Citizen Service (ICS) placements working with some of Coaching for Hope's sport for development partner organisations. ICS is a new global volunteering initiative funded by the UK government that gives young people the opportunity to contribute to poverty reduction programmes.
The group of 10 young volunteers and team leaders jumped straight into participating in a Coaching for Hope level one coaching and life skills course comprising session planning and coaching roles, responsibilities and approaches. During the action-packed week, the volunteers developed their understanding of how football can be used to address social issues and were equipped with the necessary skills to coach young people in communities that are typically affected by issues such as HIV and substance misuse.
Based on an assessment of their skills and preferences, the volunteers were placed with Amandla EduFootball, Soccer 4 Hope or Making an Impact Through Sport (MITS). During their placements they will participate in a variety of activities including life orientation classes in schools, coaching children on after-school programmes and in residential homes, mentoring youth coaches and getting involved in local football tournaments.Find out more about joining us as an ICS volunteer at www.skillshare.org/ICS
Mad Dog goes to Botswana
In June 2011, Notts County FC Manager Martin Allen travelled to Botswana with Coaching for Hope to run a masterclass for the young men and women leaders from our local partner SEDYEL (South East District Youth Empowerment League). Working with Coaching for Hope's Southern Africa Programme Officer, Mike Richardson, Martin delivered a six-day course supported by The FA.
Having run courses with Coaching for Hope in Burkina Faso and South Africa during the last year, Martin was keen to return to Africa to share his skills and experience with youth coaches in Botswana. “Giving these young people the skills to coach more effectively is a way of showing how the sport can change lives and keep young people healthy and fit” - Martin Allen
Martin relished the return to Africa to work with young people who use football to help protect themselves and their peers from HIV. In Botswana, 24.8% of the population under 50 is living with HIV. Through Coaching for Hope sessions, which combine football with messages about sexual health, young people are empowered to make healthy positive choices about their lives.
Lesotho Workshop
From 4th – 11th October 2010, Coaching for Hope held a workshop in Lesotho as part of a LENEPWHA (Lesotho Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS) project called Phahamisang Boroa bo Hlole HIV le AIDS, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund in the UK and is supported by Skillshare International in Lesotho.
Nikki Richardson and Dave Amiet, from Brighton and Hove Albion’s Albion in the Community programme, facilitated the course, guiding the local coaches through the Coaching for Hope ‘Adapt It’ manual. The aim of the course was to provide coaches with the skills and strategies to make their football sessions inclusive for people of all abilities.
The workshop was very effective with all participants stating that their opinions had changed, regarding people with disabilities, as a result of attending the workshop. Participants also said that they would feel comfortable implementing football sessions for people with disabilities. One participant comments “I will be free and comfortable working with people with disabilities because I know how to work with them. I am also going to encourage more coaches to adapt this in their coaching sessions.”
Our development worker, Shawn Forde (Sports Development and Life skills co-ordinator), comments “This workshop has built on a successful year for the Coaching for Hope coaches involved in the LENEPWHA project and there is a lot of enthusiasm going forward into the second year.” Workshops in the second year will have more emphasis on training of trainers, allowing some local coaches to become certified to roll-out training workshops for other coaches within the Coaching for Hope system.
CFH launch programme in Mozambique
On 27th August 2010 we launched our first programme in Mozambique, in partnership with the Bristol 2018 World Cup bid team, the ‘Bristol Link with Beira’ and PROVIDA (a Mozambique based football and life skills NGO). The joint programme aims to create better and lasting futures for young people in Beira (Bristol’s twin city), Mozambique and the initial phase is being sponsored by Bristol 2018 and Tribal.
In August 2010 Mike Richardson (UK and West Africa Programme Manager) trained two Bristol City FC coaches before they traveled to Mozambique to deliver the five day programme and educate volunteer football coaches, some of whom are primary school teachers and youth workers who are involved with PROVIDA’s street football work in the poorest parts of Beira.
Alix Hughes from ‘Bristol Link with Beira’ comments: “Having seen first-hand Coaching for Hope’s work in the Khaylitsha township in Cape Town during the World Cup, I am confident Coaching for Hope are the best partners for Bristol 2018’s supported football development and HIV/aids awareness project in Beira. I’m sure that their innovative, refreshing and very positive approach will enable a lasting and successful initiative in our twin city in Mozambique."
Sir Trevor Brooking visits coaching masterclass in Cape TownOn Thursday 17th June 2010, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP (Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport), Nicola Brewer (British High Commissioner in South Africa) and Julian Eccles (FA Director of Communications and Marketing) joined Sir Trevor Brooking (The FA's Director of Football Development) on a visit to our advanced coaching course in Cape Town.
The visitors observed the coaches teaching life skills to groups of children and after the session they had the opportunity to talk to the children about the programme.
The Secretary of State for Sport, Media and Culture, Jeremy Hunt said: "I've seen how powerful community football programmes are in the UK so it's fascinating to see how they're being used to combat HIV/AIDS in South Africa. My only disappointment was getting here too late to see Beckham visiting this programme last year."
Martin Allen leads master class in Cape Town
From 17th to 20th June 2010, Martin Allen led a course for 25 local coaches in Cape Town. The course, which is sponsored by the League Managers Association, is providing high quality advanced training to the volunteer coaches who have already successfully completed level one or two coaching qualifications with us.
Martin Allen, former manager of clubs including Leicester City, said: "Football has the ability to unite communities and can help to create real hope for some of these youngsters. Coaching for Hope uses football to educate local people, helping to change both their lives and the lives of others and I’m truly honoured to be involved in such a fantastic cause and to be given the opportunity to contribute my part to a World Cup legacy here in South Africa."
Richard Bevan, Chief Executive of the LMA added: "The LMA are delighted to be able to support such a worthwhile course. Martin Allen is a highly experienced manager who has a great deal to offer the world of football and will undoubtedly bring all his experience and knowledge to this course to positive effect."New training facility for Mbekweni Community
On 12th June 2010, Coaching for Hope joined VIPs at the opening ceremony of the brand new Mbekweni Community Sports Centre in the Western Cape.
This modern and top quality sports facility was established by the UK charity Hope through Action and the biggest financial contibutors to the R14M (£1.2M) facility were 120,000 English football fans.
The brainchild of Cheshire businessman Phil Green and his wife Judy, the centre is situated in the heart of the Mbekweni Township outside Paarl. It features a large sports hall with an artificial turf flooring and top class ancillary facilities.
The centre was opened by Lord (Brian) Mawhinney, Honorary President of the English Football League, who was accompanied by Geoff Thompson, FIFA Vice President and the newly appointed Chairman of England's 2018 World Cup bid.
To support the local community to make full use of this wonderful facility one of our partner organisations, SCORE, has been appointed to deliver the centre's sports programmes. Coaching for Hope will be working in partnership with SCORE and Hope for Action to help train local coaches to deliver top quality football sessions at the centre and to use football to address social issues such HIV, gender equity and substance abuse.
British Army team join Coaching for Hope awareness day
In May 2010, a women's football team from the British Army visited South Africa and spent the day with us, learning about how football can promote development and social change.
The day was led by coaches from partner organisations working in marginalised communities in the greater Cape Town area that have been trained through the Coaching for Hope programme. These communities are tackling significant challenges including poverty, HIV/AIDS, alchohol and drug abuse, and serious crime.
The British Army women's team took part in our HIV/AIDS and substance abuse crossover sessions and had the opportunity to meet South African women who play, coach and referee football. Many of these women face discrimination and abuse because of their love of football. Female players in South Africa have been accused of "forgetting their place in the kitchen" and in some of the worst cases of abuse have been assaulted, raped and murdered just for participating in the beautiful game of football.
The joint "Football for Social Change" awareness day was funded by the British Army women's football team, which also made a donation to support our work.
Seminar examining the challenges
of developing Women’s Football in England and South AfricaFemale footballers from South Africa and the UK met in Cape Town on 9th May 2010 to examine the challenges facing the development of women's football in England and South Africa.
The one-day seminar was organised jointly by Coaching for Hope, the British Council and SCORE and formed part of the programme for 14 women's leaders from The FA who visited South Africa in May. The group from the UK included two delegates from English universities, three FA county Women's Football Development Officers and nine FA Young Leaders. Their visit was part of an exchange supported by the British Council that will see a group from South Africa make a return visit to England in 2011.
The interactive seminar focused on three key themes:- Changing attitudes to women's football and women in football.
- Engaging girls in football: The role of schools and community organisations.
- Developing women's football and the importance of women's leadership in football.
The City of Cape Town supported this event, which was held at Athlone Stadium. For further information, please contact Lucy at lucy@score.org.za or on 021 462 0045.
Celebrating women's football in Cape Town
In October 2009, we placed development worker Lucy Mills on a two-year with Sports Coach Outreach (SCORE) in Cape Town, where she co-ordinates the Football and Life Skills programme.
Lucy plays for the University of Cape Town's women's team and has completed a Masters thesis focusing on the impact of the World Cup and legacy initiatives on football development at the grassroots level.
Read more about Lucy's research at www.sportanddev.org or download Coaching for Hope's March 2010 newsletter to read more about Lucy's work.
Beckham visits Coaching for Hope in Cape Town
Thursday 3rd December 2009 was the biggest day in Coaching for Hope's history, when David Beckham, Lucas Radebe, FA chair Lord Triesman, and British High Commissioner to South Africa Dr. Nicola Brewer, visited our programme in Cape Town. The 33 young players from Marsh Memorial, Homestead and Bapumelele children's homes in Cape Town, and seven young leaders from other children's homes in the area were over the moon when they found out that they would be practising their football skills with David Beckham and former South Africa captain and Leeds star, Lucas Radebe.
Local coaches teamed up with young leaders to deliver a full day of dynamic warm ups, HIV and substance misuse sessions, and youth-led football to demonstrate Coaching for Hope's unique approach to social education through football to the stars. After being sure to get his own CFH t-shirt signed by the young players, Radebe commented "you keep saying people like us inspire you; coming here today has really turned that around, I feel inspired by you!"
The experience made an equally powerful impression on Beckham, who said, "It's amazing to visit a project like this and see the effect football has on young people. Football has the power to change lives and the youngsters are able to learn valuable lessions through their love of the game. I feel privileged to have met these children and despite the fact we come from different backgrounds we share a love for the game of football. AIDS is a very real problem in places like Khaylitsha and football must ensure it does whatever it can to help educate young people of its dangers and make a difference."
£2,000 donation from PFA
The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) have made a donation of £2,000 to support our work in Southern Africa. This money will be used to roll out a Youth Leadership course in Cape Town in December 2009, and will give the young people we work with an opportunity to develop their skills and take part in a course that will build their confidence and self-esteem.
Launch of new adidas-AKL senior boys league
Amandla Ku Lutsha gives young people in residential care the opportunity to play football through an organised structure. With our corporate partner adidas, we are supporting the new ‘adidas-AKL senior boys football league’ by providing funding for them to continue the good work being done with these boys, including training for their coaches. The league provides the boys with life skills, football coaching and a lot of fun.
- Results of week one matches (PDF)
Results of week two matches (PDF)
Results of week three matches (PDF)- Results of week four matches (PDF)
- Results of week five matches (PDF)
- Results of week 6 matches (PDF)
- Results of week 7 matches (PDF)
- Results of week 8 matches (PDF)
- Results of week 9 and 10 matches (PDF)
- Results of week 11 matches (PDF)
Coaching for Hope and SANCA deliver social messages through football
We are working with the South African National Council on Alcohol and Drugs (SANCA) to roll out football - substance abuse crossover sessions at schools in Hanover Park, Athlone, Ottery and Khayelitsha. In each of these sessions we have two local coaches who are trained to deliver specialist football sessions with messages on the dangers of alcohol and drugs. The courses, which last eight weeks cover different topics relating to the drug and alcohol misuse culture that exists within the students' local communities. Working in partnership with SANCA, we run football games with messages for young people and also provide information for anyone at the school who might need it. The social workers work side by side with our trained coaches to deliver this information. Mike Richardson from Coaching for Hope said, "This is a great initiative, engaging schools and the local drug council. It's an ongoing weekly event - we are there every Wednesday during the school term."
Karen and Olivia with coaches, players and Cynthia the Co-ordinator (far right) from Bread of Life.
ICS volunteers in Cape Town, June 2011
Martin Allen with coaches from SEDYEL in Botswana.
Nikki Richardson and Dave Amiet leading sessions at the Lesotho workshop.
Nothemba joins Beckam to launch 2018 bid
On 14th May 2010, 16-year old Nothemba Bambiso from Marsh Memorial Children's Home in Cape Town appeared on stage in Zurich with David Beckham as he presented the England 2018 World Cup Bid Book to FIFA.
Read about a visit to our programme in Cape Town on the VQR blog
David Beckham spent time with young players in the township of Khayelitsha when he visited our programme. Photo taken by Ed Suter.
David Beckham with former South Africa captain Lucas Radebe. Photo taken by Ed Suter.
Photo : Teams playing in the Amandla Ku Lutsha - adidas league in Cape Town, May 2009.
For more information on the adidas-AKL senior boys football league please contact Sheylan.
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Botswana and Lesotho Big Lottery Fund grant!
In February 2009, Skillshare International received the fantastic news that a bid to the Big Lottery Fund was successful. The five-year grant for £3.68 million will fund a portfolio of six linked HIV&AIDS projects in five countries across Southern Africa. This includes funding for us to deliver football coach education focusing on how to live positively with HIV.
