TackleAfrica targets to inform, support and challenge young Ugandans in Hoima to make safer decisions, limiting the impact of HIV in their communities, adding value to existing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights programmes, aiming to empower disadvantaged young people and create better futures for them and their communities – through football.

Problem to be tackled

Economically, Hoima is an oil-rich mining area, meaning commercial sex work and transactional sex is an escape from poverty for some adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). In addition, lockdown has led to many young people and their parents losing jobs and incomes, and they have become desperate for alternative means. In this context, access to information and services for AGYW is essential. Now that lockdown restrictions have been eased, it is crucial sending TackleAfrica coaches back out to the schools and communities to deliver information and services to those in serious need.

Local partner

TackleAfrica uses the power and popularity of football to deliver HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services to young people on football pitches across the continent.

The programme is focussed on adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) but will deliberately and strategically include a small percentage of adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) in every team. This has worked well in opening up conversations around gender equity, and by recruiting female coaches, ABYM can see positive female role models in positions of respect. ABYM struggle even more than AGYW to overcome fears of accessing sexual health services, and so frank and open discussion with mixed groups gives them a chance to confront their own internal barriers.

SOL’s contribution

With the support from The SOL Foundation, TackleAfrica will be able to extend the pilot programme of the last two years – also by adding a project delivery partner with HONECRIC – using football to inform, support and challenge young Ugandans in Hoima to make safer decisions, limiting the impact of HIV in their communities and adding value to existing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights programmes.

Project partner

Laureus Sport for Good Foundation

Laureus uses the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage for children and young people all around the world. It supports actually more than 200 programmes in over 40 countries with funding and capacity building, helping to change the lives of over 200’000 marginalised and disadvantaged children and young people – from increasing access to education, to tackling gang violence, to supporting the mental health of youth in post-trauma situations.

Laureus Sport for Good was founded under the Patronage of Nelson Mandela, in line with his belief that “sport has the power to change the world” after seeing it play a crucial role in rebuilding post-apartheid South African society.