On December 5th at 5 p.m. it was finally time. With a great round of applause from the local populace, the Malian Minster for Youth and Sport, Hamane Nyang, cut the ribbon on the new Baguinéda Football for Hope Centre.

With the opening, 20 Centres for 2010, a joint initiative from streetfootballworld and FIFA, marks another significant milestone. After openings in South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia, Mali, with a new centre of its own, has stepped forward to take a central role in this success story.

The Centre Host is streetfootballworld network member AMPJF, which has served the young people and women of Bamako for ten years. The Football for Hope Centre allows the organisation to increase its capacity, continue to promote social change in Bamako, and expand its programmes to the rural community of Baguinéda.

Souadou Diabaté, director of AMPJF, was thrilled with the new possibilities: "We are unbelievably proud to host a Football for Hope Centre. The Centre will help us to ensure that our programme will be recognised throughout the country and that all girls and women in Mali can benefit from it."

New opportunities for girls and young women
The primary target groups for the centre's work are school drop-outs, as well as those who are at risk of dropping out. With the Football for Hope Centre, the AMPFJ offers local young people an attractive opportunity to play football while also taking advantage of tutoring programmes to improve academic performance and learn valuable computer skills. Other practical skills training workshops for girls and young women give them the necessary abilities and knowledge to enter and succeed in the professional world.

Katrin Elsemann represented streetfootballworld at the opening, saying: "Our network member AMPFJ is a true pioneer in pushing for women's rights and equality issues in Mali. Today you can see the entire community and twelve girls' teams here, all eager to take advantage of the centre's various offerings—and, of course, to play football."

Together for Mali and Africa
The Malian Minister for Youth and Sport, Hamane Yang, is convinced of the centre's impact.

"I am very grateful to both FIFA and streetfootballworld for bringing the Football for Hope Centre to Mali. The AMPFJ programme is unique and deserves a home to help further this extraordinary African initiative," said the guest of honour at the opening ceremony.

After several musical interludes, the opening finished up with a friendly kick-off game between two girls' football teams from Baguinéda. It was a long-awaited moment that left all the players and spectators eager for more.


Written by Daniel Wöger
Translated by Jordan Krechmer