After one week of selection process involving 2, 500 applicants, the final 128 participants, 16 young leaders, 16 coaches and 20 volunteers kicked off the “Community Connects” – for youth leadership project in Calabar, implemented by Search and Groom – youth for development centre with The Bridge Leadership Foundation as funding partner.

With thematic support from streetfootballworld, an adaptation of the 2008 Euro Schools project, "Community Connects" will use the game of FOOTBALL to teach Leadership and Fair Play skills for personal and community development by engaging vulnerable and homeless young men and women, between the ages of 16 and 23 years.

The programme aims to serve as a means of reaching young people and tackling social exclusion, instil Leadership qualities and abilities in young men and women and encourage female participation in sports.

In addition, it also seeks to support and increase level of economic literacy amongst youths within Cross River State, offer a grooming platform for young people with career aspirations in football, identify and support unemployed youths (men and women) as an integral part of the community and young leaders.

Leadership Workshops will hold for one week, while Football matches are scheduled to hold for another one week leading to the finals.

The project Finals will hold on December 24, 2011 with an opening match between Senator Liyel Imoke (Executive Governor of Cross River state) led state Executive council team and a select team from the participants including volunteers.

Three outstanding participants from the Community Connect Football Project will be selected to represent Nigeria at the Mexico City 2012 Homeless World Cup, in Mexico scheduled to hold in October 2012.

As the pilot Community Connect project to run only in Calabar, it will be implemented across other parts of Cross River State in 2012.