Our story
How it began.
From leadership training in Africa to a foundation that uses football as a tool for change.
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De oprichters in Malawi
The beginning
From Libre Foundation to Football is Life.
Paul van Zwam and Ivo Spanjersberg work as sports psychologists and trainers at Libre Foundation. That organisation provides free leadership and communication training to local organisations in developing countries.
Through that work they came into contact with UNGWERU, a local NGO in Mzuzu, Malawi. They saw the enormous energy of young people in Soweto, the poorest neighbourhood of the city. But also the lack of facilities, guidance and perspective.
The conviction became simple and powerful: football makes young people visible and offers a safe entry point. Through well-trained coaches, participants directly learn life skills. That's how Football is Life was born.
Timeline
The milestones.
Libre Foundation
Paul van Zwam and Ivo Spanjersberg work as trainers at Libre Foundation. The organisation provides free leadership and communication training to local organisations in developing countries.
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Libre Foundation
Libre Foundation
Paul van Zwam and Ivo Spanjersberg work as trainers at Libre Foundation. The organisation provides free leadership and communication training to local organisations in developing countries.
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Libre Foundation
Malawi
Through Libre Foundation they come into contact with UNGWERU in Mzuzu. A local NGO that has worked on education, healthcare and youth development since 2004.
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Malawi
Malawi
Through Libre Foundation they come into contact with UNGWERU in Mzuzu. A local NGO that has worked on education, healthcare and youth development since 2004.
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Malawi
Soweto
In the poorest neighbourhood of Mzuzu they see the reality: no sports facilities, no community centres, no organised activities for young people. But enormous energy and need.
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Soweto
Soweto
In the poorest neighbourhood of Mzuzu they see the reality: no sports facilities, no community centres, no organised activities for young people. But enormous energy and need.
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Soweto
The idea
The conviction is simple: football makes young people visible and offers a safe entry point. Through well-trained coaches, participants directly learn life skills.
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The idea
The idea
The conviction is simple: football makes young people visible and offers a safe entry point. Through well-trained coaches, participants directly learn life skills.
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The idea
The founding
Football is Life Foundation, Pass it on is founded. ANBI-certified, completely unpaid board, focused on small-scale and personal approach.
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The founding
The founding
Football is Life Foundation, Pass it on is founded. ANBI-certified, completely unpaid board, focused on small-scale and personal approach.
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The founding
Ambassadors
Peter Bosz and Bryan Linssen join as football ambassadors. Their involvement opens doors in the sports world.
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Ambassadors
Ambassadors
Peter Bosz and Bryan Linssen join as football ambassadors. Their involvement opens doors in the sports world.
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Ambassadors
VVCS
The Dutch Professional Footballers Association provides training clothing and sports material. A direct bridge between professional football and the project.
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VVCS
VVCS
The Dutch Professional Footballers Association provides training clothing and sports material. A direct bridge between professional football and the project.
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VVCS
First trip
In February 2026, the founders travel to Malawi to formalise cooperation with UNGWERU and prepare the Trainer Coach 1 training.
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First trip
First trip
In February 2026, the founders travel to Malawi to formalise cooperation with UNGWERU and prepare the Trainer Coach 1 training.
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First trip
Future
Soweto is the blueprint. There's already interest from northern Ghana and Tanzania for similar projects.
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Future
Future
Soweto is the blueprint. There's already interest from northern Ghana and Tanzania for similar projects.
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Future
Core values
What we stand for.
Local anchoring
We always work with and through local partners who know the community.
Partnership
Partnership, not dependency. Building together, growing together.
Boys and girls
Gender equality is not secondary. Both groups get equal opportunities.
Structure and discipline
Football training as a source of routine, agreements and responsibility.
Hope and perspective
Every training is a step towards a future with more opportunities.
Professionalism
A small team with serious implementation capacity and complete transparency.
We don't want to be yet another set of know-it-all Westerners coming in to tell people how it should be done.
Paul van Zwam and Ivo Spanjersberg, founders
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