By Dustin Alarid | SWB Director of Communications
Flipping the Script by ‘Coaching Boys Into Men’
The SWB pitch is more than just a place to play soccer. It is also a powerful platform for change. This summer, over 35 young athletes gathered at SWB Uganda to share how their lives had been transformed through the Coaching Boys Into Men (CBIM) curriculum.
Since the introduction of CBIM, a program designed and facilitated by Futures Without Violence, our coaches have been teaching the older boys vital lessons on respect, accountability and healthy relationships. This evidence-based program has been unique in its approach, using the influence of sports to teach how strength comes from respect and nonviolence.
At this special event, the boys opened up about how the 12-week CBIM curriculum is changing their perspectives and actions. They shared heartfelt stories that illustrated the profound impact of the curriculum on their lives, their teams and communities.
“I learned how to control myself when someone annoys me,” said Bene, an SWB participant. “I have applied the CBIM teaching in how I talk to girls. If a girl doesn't want to talk to you, don't force her.”
SWB participant Abubakar recalled how he “learned to stay away from drugs and to live peacefully with others. I also learned to respect girls and not use inappropriate nicknames when talking to them.”
These moments of sharing and learning highlighted the incredible potential of CBIM to foster safer, more respectful environments, especially for women and girls. Join us in celebrating these champions, coaches, and community advocates who are leading the way in creating lasting change."
35 Grassroots Girls Teams Compete in the 10th Kampala Girls League
The 10th edition of the Kampala Girls League (KGL) wrapped up last month with 35 grassroots girls teams participating! Hosted by our Soccer Without Borders (SWB) Uganda hub, the tournament was founded with only six teams and has since become one of the region's most influential all-girl soccer events.
Launched in 2019 and expanded in 2020 with support from Beyond Sport and Laureus Sport for Good, the KGL is a signature program of SWB Uganda, designed to advance gender equality on the soccer pitch. In Uganda, women’s and girls' soccer is still underdeveloped and largely only accessible through university and private schools; the Kampala Girls League was created by SWB to provide girls at the grassroots level a platform to play, compete, connect, have fun, promote fair play, and develop leadership skills.
The KGL model is unique in its utilization of pure “radical football” methodology. In this methodology, teams are not solely rewarded based on the rules of conventional soccer, instead, the design allows multiple teams to win. More than scoring goals, other accomplishments awarded to teams include those who are most punctual, those who acquire the most “fair play” points, best goal celebration, favorite opponent, and more. The teams crowned as divisional champions are decided by a combination of match points and fair-play points.
Join us in congratulating all of the coaches, staff, and participants for another impactful KGL season!
Standing in Solidarity on World Refugee Day
Each year on June 20th, World Refugee Day (WRD) is celebrated globally to honor the resilience and courage of those forced to flee their home countries due to conflict or persecution. Organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the day serves to uplift forcibly displaced individuals worldwide.
This year, SWB Uganda's newcomer participants, coaches, and staff celebrated WRD by participating in a unique refugee-led gala. The event brought together over 350 youth athletes and 700 attendees from 10 nationalities, representing various refugee-led organizations under the Uganda Refugee-Led Organization Network. Themed “Scoring for Solidarity,” the gala aimed to unify refugee and host communities, emphasizing the power of teamwork and football in building a brighter future.
Special guests from UNHCR, the Conrad Hilton Foundation, and the Uganda government added voices of support, celebrating the strengths and achievements of refugees and addressing the challenges they face. The gala was a beautiful reminder to stand with refugees worldwide and champion solidarity in all we do.
SWB Uganda Youth Instructor Featured in an Article by Common Goal
"The first thing football gives them is a place to be free and the second, a chance to forget and start over."
This past spring, Immy, a Youth Instructor at SWB Uganda, sat down with our friends and partners at Common Goal. In the piece, you'll learn about the importance of English Language Instruction for newcomers in Uganda and how the world's game can play an important role in their educational journey.
You won’t want to miss the eye-opening insights shared by Immy. You can read the article here.
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