Project Soweto.
The first community project of Football is Life. A football pitch, trained coaches and life skills for young people in the poorest neighbourhood of Mzuzu.
Background
Why Soweto?
Malawi has an extremely young population – the average age is around 18. Many young people grow up without structure, guidance or perspective.
Soweto is the poorest neighbourhood of Mzuzu, Malawi. Young people here lack not only facilities – they also lack the guidance and role models that make development possible.
That is exactly why Football is Life starts here. Not with a one-off action, but with a sustainable programme that is locally rooted and locally carried.
In collaboration with UNGWERU and St. Patrick, two organisations with deep roots in the community, we are building something that lasts.
“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
Local partners
The carriers of the model.
No programme works without local roots. UNGWERU and St. Patrick are not implementers – they are co-owners.
More about our partners →UNGWERU
Local roots & coordination
Local organisation in Mzuzu with deep-rooted knowledge of the Soweto community. UNGWERU provides local grounding, coordination and daily oversight of the programme.
St. Patrick
Community & schools
Local partner organisation connecting with residents, coaches and schools in and around Soweto. Essential for local support and trust.
The team
The people behind the project.
In Malawi the programme is carried by local professionals who know the community and have its trust.
Crief
Coordinator
Day-to-day management and community contact
Sam
Coordinator
Connection between programme and community
Leo
Advisor
Strategic advice and knowledge transfer
Isaac
Local coach & coordinator
Day-to-day training and community contact in Soweto
Pillars
Four pillars. One goal.
01
Football field & facilities
We build a football field and create a safe meeting place. Groundwork, goals, fencing and markings, a place of self-worth.
02
Train local coaches
Young people are trained via the Trainer Coach 1 programme. Football is Life trains together with UNGWERU and St. Patrick – knowledge stays in the community.
03
Life skills & empowerment
Alongside football, there's weekly space for health, cooperation and personal development. Empowerment sessions for and by young people.
04
2 years of guidance
Football is Life stays for 2 years after handover. Monitoring, safeguarding and continuity – so the model is truly embedded.
Training
Trainer Coach 1.
Football is Life is developing a certified training programme for local coaches together with UNGWERU. After a three-day course, trainers receive the "Trainer Coach 1" certificate.
All about the training →Collaboration
Exercises focused on connection, teamwork and achieving shared goals, on and off the pitch.
Leadership
Game and ball drills with roles, making choices, giving instructions and evaluating. Taking initiative with respect.
Taking responsibility
For yourself, for each other and for your surroundings. Making behaviour visible, keeping agreements, improving together.
3
Days of training
intensive & practice-oriented
15
Exercises
in the workbook
3
Core themes
collaboration, leadership, responsibility
Certificate
Trainer Coach 1
recognised qualification
Implementation
Step by step.
Selection & preparation
Local coaches are selected based on commitment and potential.
Trainer Coach 1 training
Intensive training to become a certified coach, guided by Football is Life and local partners.
Start training
Regular football training for young people in Soweto. Three times a week.
Empowerment activities
Weekly life skills sessions alongside training. Health, cooperation, future.
Monitoring & safeguarding
Progress is tracked, coaches are guided, participants are protected.
Local anchoring
After 2 years, the local team takes full responsibility. Sustainably embedded.
Impact
How we measure results.
Goals for phase 1. We measure what we promise – and report back transparently to our donors.
60–80
Young people reached
phase 1 goal
4–6
Coaches trained
Trainer Coach 1
3×
Trainings per week
per group
Weekly
Life skills sessions
alongside training
2 years
Guidance
after delivery
100%
Local delivery
via UNGWERU & St. Patrick
Project goal
€ 15.000
Total needed for the pitch, the trainer course and 2 years of on-site support in Mzuzu.
Budget
Football field construction
Groundwork, goals, fencing, markings
Sports material
Footballs, bibs, cones and training material
Coach training
Trainer Coach 1 – training and guidance of local coaches
2 years project support
Football is Life on site in Mzuzu
As an ANBI-recognised foundation, donations to Football is Life are tax-deductible in the Netherlands. Financial accounts are available via the board.
Progress
Two-thirds of the goal reached.
Of the required 15,000 euros, two-thirds has already been raised through sponsors, donations and auctions. The project is nearing its implementation phase.
Two-thirds of the project goal
Help us reach the final part
Donate now →Future
Soweto as a blueprint.
The Soweto project is just the beginning. The slogan 'Football is Life, Pass it on' is not just a phrase, but an approach: transferring knowledge, rooting it locally and growing further. There is already interest from Northern Ghana and Tanzania for similar initiatives.
Phase 2: Expansion in Mzuzu
After the success of FC Soweto we expand to other neighbourhoods in Mzuzu. The same model, adapted to the local context.
Phase 3: Rumphi and Nkhata Bay
The diocese knows of more areas where young people benefit from structure and guidance through sport.
International
Northern Ghana and Tanzania have already shown interest. The methodology is designed to be transferable.
Follow the progress
FC Soweto in view.
Follow the progress of the project through our channels.
6x per year
Video series
3-4x per year
Facilities update
5x per year
Local stories
Monthly
Football Shirt Challenge
Help us build.
€ 10 = 1 youth, 1 year of better guidance.
€ 15,000 = an entire community project.
