Changing Lives in Africa

An FA contingent returned from Botswana last weekend, after a successful and rewarding trip for the Changing Lives Programme. The party included four young leaders; Sarah Cummings (Manchester FA), Doug Howie (Worcester FA), Elizabeth Adewole (London FA) and Joe Brownless (Isle of Man FA), who were selected from the 100 that attended the 2009 FA Leadership and Volunteering Camp. 
 
The aim of the trip was to work with Young Leaders from the South East District Youth League (SEDYEL), and create club links by supporting them to deliver football to schools in the area. The SEDYEL is a youth-led sports and community development programme in Botswana and an initiative of the South East District Council of Botswana, in partnership with The City of Toronto, Canada and in cooperation with Commonwealth Games Association of Canada, United Kingdom Sports and The Mathare Youth Sports Association of Kenya. SEDYEL was developed to channel the energy and enthusiasm of young Botswana away from risky behaviours through sports.
 
After touching down in Botswana on the morning of Sunday 25 October, The FA’s Young Leaders went straight to work, visiting an SOS orphanage, where they delivered a mini-festival. The following day, the group visited the SEDYEL Youth Centre for the first time and this opportunity was used to deliver some leadership training to the group of 16 leaders from the SEDYEL.

A hectic programme followed over the next three days as the group visited six schools and over 300 children participated in football coaching sessions delivered by The FA’s four young leaders and supported by the team from SEDYEL. As the week progressed, the sessions were led by the African Leaders, in the hope that similar practices will be sustained after The FA’s visit.
 
FA Education Project Officer Steve Swallow, who has recently taken over responsibility for The FA’s Leadership and Volunteering Programme said: “The values statement of the SEDYEL is to inspire and empower young people through football. Both the leaders within our party and from the SEDYEL have enjoyed a life changing experience, and we are sure that our time here will create opportunities through football for many young people.”