Location: Edendale, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Centre Host: Africaid’s WhizzKids United

Status: in design development phase

Sept. 27, 2010: Two new Football for Hope Centres announced

The Edendale Football for Hope Centre will be located in Edendale, the largest township in Pietermaritzburg, located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. With a population of over 10 million in an area of 92,100 km², KwaZulu-Natal is the second-densest province in South Africa. Its motto, fittingly, is ‘Let us rise and build’.

40% of the population of KwaZulu-Natal is under 20 years old, and nearly a quarter of young people aged 20 or younger have received no education. KwaZulu-Natal also has the highest rate of HIV infection of all of South Africa’s provinces: its HIV antenatal prevalence rate is nearly 39%. Edendale itself also has an extremely high HIV prevalence rate.

Edendale is the site of WhizzKids United’s original pilot programme, which has been running there since 2006.

streetfootballworld network member WhizzKids United’s goal is to provide HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support for young people worldwide. Through the organisation’s use of football, vital life lessons become fun and, more importantly, long-lasting. In order to reduce the high rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the Sub-Saharan Africa, WhizzKids United not only uses football to help young people cultivate the necessary skills to avoid infection, it also provides continual follow-up support.

 Through the beautiful game, WhizzKids United teaches health-orientated values and the specific capabilities that young people need to react with confidence and knowledge to the obstacles and dangers of daily life.

By offering a unique, holistic approach to HIV/AIDS, WhizzKids United is able to provide long-term support for young people, which is essential for the creation of lasting positive behavioural change.

The Edendale Football for Hope Centre will extend the services of an existing facility: the first WhizzKids United Health Academy, which reaches an adolescent patient population with a full range of professional health and counselling services and football-based health education activities.

A wide range of programmes is already available, including one-on-one, couple and group counselling; antiretroviral treatment; HIV and TB testing; psychosocial support groups; treatment and management of sexually transmitted diseases; orphan and vulnerable children services; mixed team football leagues; regular football coaching; computer training and internet access; career guidance; arts and crafts and drama programmes and various workshops.

The extension of the existing facility will provide more space for counselling sessions, including adherence counselling, which helps young people with HIV stick to their antiretroviral therapy programmes. Adherence education classes and various training courses will also be expanded in the Edendale Football for Hope Centre.

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health
Department of Education
Department of Social Welfare
Department of Agriculture
Edendale Hospital
Edendale Hospital Rape Crisis Centre
One Voice South Africa
Shaping the Future