“Football helps youth discover their potential”
August 21st, 2015
Marko Kasic, a Youth Professional working in the Philippines, describes how organised sport is being used to support youth in the wake of a natural disaster.
The Football for Life (F4L) is a Sport for Development Programme, working to support children and youth from marginalised communities. F4L uses the medium of sports and experiential learning to help beneficiaries discover and develop their true potential. In the process, the project ensures equitable access to play for all children and fosters greater social cohesion amongst polarised social groups.
F4L entered Tacloban in July 2014, using regular sports sessions as a vehicle for psychosocial support and to restore hope and childhood to children (aged 7-14) affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Having successfully established sports as a robust tool for engagement between children and local coaches, we now aim to use the power of sport to provide social and emotional development for children and youth across target communities.
Since inception, the programme has reached over 8,000 children across typhoon affected communities, with over 300 children attending regular sessions each week. For further information on FundLife International please visit www.fundlife.org or visit the F4L facebook page here www.facebook.com/f4lcf.
photo credit: Champions League Ball via photopin (license)
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About me:
I am a British National splitting my time between London and the Philippines. Ifirst visited the Philippines in 2011 and founded the ‘Sama-Sama Games’, an annual event that promotes equality through sport. I set-up FundLife International in 2015. The NGO currently works with UNICEF and Shell Foundation to empower disadvantaged communities through experiential education and training.
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Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Articles are published in a spirit of dialogue, respect and understanding. If you disagree, why not submit a response.
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