The community of Khayelitsha in Cape Town, South Africa is preparing to welcome a new addition to their neighbourhood as the Football for Hope Centre nears completion.
The Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha is the first of 20 that will be constructed across Africa as part of 20 Centres for 2010, the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The campaign aims to address local social challenges in disadvantaged areas by improving education and health services for young people.
The Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha will address HIV and AIDS education amongst young people and will feature an artificial turf pitch as well as buildings to provide education and health services for the Centre Host, the organisation Grassroot Soccer.
Focus on the future
One Khayelitsha resident who will get a better view than most of the centre in operation is Gladys Zoleka Masiza, a local sangoma (traditional healer) who lives next door to the centre site in Harare – an area that has previously suffered from high levels of crime and violence.
“All of us here in this area were so happy when we heard that this centre will be built because now our children are going to have a place to play,” she said.
“Sometimes our young people get into bad things like crime and robbing people but now they know that there is new development, there are lights here so everyone can see what is happening and there is no way they will get into those bad things.”
“This was more like a crime spot, but now it is more like an activity spot where people come to enjoy themselves,” added Zamayedwa Sogayise, Chairperson of the Khayelitsha Development Forum which, along with the City of Cape Town, applied for the site to be considered for a Football for Hope Centre.
“This centre will focus on developing and educating our youth, so we are focussing on the future. This is not just for Harare, it is for the whole of Khayelitsha.”
Kick Off
On December 5th 2009 the centre will be officially opened at the Football for Hope Centre Kick Off, a high-profile event that will feature VIPs and football legends as well as a football tournament between organisations that use football for social development from across Africa and Brazil.
Written by Mike Geddes
