Youth Leadership in Mali

In early 2011, 13 young leaders, including two deaf participants and four young women, took part in our two-month youth leadership programme in Mali. Through the course, young people are empowered to identify and overcome barriers to their own development, and are given the opportunity to develop peer leadership skills. The training focuses on skills areas such as listening, planning and organisation, communication and presentation, and advocacy – including telling their stories through photography,

The course was held in schools and public pitches across Bamako, enabling the Young Leaders to get out of their neighbourhoods and meet new people. The completion of the programme was marked with an inclusion tournament at La Cite des Enfants, in which 50 girls and 50 boys aged 9-11 years, including 15 deaf players, played matches in six mixed teams.

Coaching for Hope in India

In December 2010, we launched our first ever Coaching for Hope programme in India, in partnership with Save the Children (supported by DFID) and SOVA (South Orissa Voluntary Action). The seven-day coaching programme was delivered to 18 young coaches from tribal communities who learnt coaching skills alongside communications skills and HIV and AIDS teaching.

“This is very important training for this community because tribal youths are disproportionately affected by the HIV virus. They have learned a lot and it will be very important for them to go back and teach their peers what they have learned.” - Dr. Dinesh Baliga, Skillshare International development worker

Towards the end of the course the participants were asked to prepare a Plan of Action and lead sessions on HIV and football, so that they can return to their villages and deliver the programme to their football teams. By taking the programme to their rural villages and football teams, the course participants are enabling important information about HIV and AIDS to be shared amongst the very isolated Koraput district of Orissa in East India.

Training coaches in Cape Town

In December 2008, we trained coaches in Cape Town to use the power of football to educate young people about the HIV and the dangers of substance abuse. Click here to read the full report or visit our Southern Africa news page to find out more.

Young leaders course in Mali, 2008

Jacob Naish coaching tribal communities in Koraput, Orissa.