Following the incredible success of the Castrol Skillz Holiday Programme in September, streetfootballworld network members Grassroot Soccer and WhizzKids United and Castrol are rolling the programme out nationwide through June and July.

More than 45 camps, which will use football to teach over 4,000 young people life skills and inform them about HIV/AIDS, will be held in eight provinces across South Africa. Three camps will be run by WhizzKids United.

Part of a legacy
“We realised that during school holidays, school children did not have enough to do,” explained Castrol’s Bridget Nkuna. “We were also worried about issues of child trafficking during the World Cup. That is why we want the children to be in personal development camps during the tournament.”

Armed with new knowledge and skills, young participants will be equipped to positively affect their communities.

“We encourage the children to go out and impart the knowledge they got from the camps to the people in their communities,” said Grassroot Soccer’s Soweto organiser Gregory Laing.

After the World Cup, the camps will continue as part of Castrol’s legacy projects.