Welsh youngsters in African football project

Disadvantaged Welsh youths to promote cultural understanding in Sierra Leone

The project aims to bring people together through sport (photo courtesy SAFE Foundation)

A group of disadvantaged Cardiff youngsters will use football to break down cultural barriers when they travel to war-ravaged Sierra Leone this week.

The young people – defined as being not in full time education, employment or training (NEET) – will engage in football sessions with youngsters in the West African country, and will also provide educational workshops on nutrition and health, HIV/Aids and life skills.

“By using the power of football we aim to increase understanding and global citizenship and help make a difference to some of the most deprived children and young people in the world,” said Peter Griffiths, one of the project organisers. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Cardiff young people who are looking to change and enhance their life skills and self-esteem.”

Cardiff youngsters undergo training for the Sierra Leone project

The project marks a new partnership project between the SAFE Foundation and Communities First, together with the Craig Bellamy Foundation. The idea is to support international communities in Freetown, Sierra Leone, whilst engaging NEET young people from deprived areas of Wales.

Hannah Fitt, of SAFE Foundation, told us about the organisation’s work.

“We believe that education is a basic human right, but that it can come from a non-mainstream establishment,” she said. “In the UK, we believe gaps in knowledge to be largely reflective of disengagement with civil society or lack of civic participation.”

The foundation, Hannah said, aims to encourage “soft” skills such as approachability, understanding and integration. “We believe in the power of self-identity and we recognise the part that learning plays in improving one’s sense of identity,” she said.

Of the challenges awaiting them in Sierra Leone, Hannah said: “The civil war ended in 2002 and while it is now a very peaceful country, it is still in a recovery and healing process. Our young people will be faced with poverty on a scale which they may not have seen before. However, we have professionals working with them bring about positive change for everyone involved in the project.”

Africa, Communities First, Craig Bellamy Foundation, Education, football, Gwirvol, NEET, SAFE Foundation, Sierra Leone, volunteering, workshops