The Akwaaba Sports Project

Our sports project is a community-driven sports development initiative based in Labadi, Accra (Ghana). Our mission is to use the power of sport to inspire young people to invest in themselves, their education, and the sports they love, while breaking the cycle of poverty.

Through this programme, we aim to provide children with access to education, sports, character development, and life-changing opportunities in order to help them build a better future. By focusing on sporting excellence, education, and vocational training, we are working to “Brighten the future of the next generation.”

What We Do

Our sports project is designed to support the holistic development of children in our community. Every week, we focus on the following key areas:

• Education: On Monday evenings, volunteer teachers provide educational classes to track the children’s progress and ensure their learning continues alongside their sports training.
• Sports: We run training sessions from Tuesday to Friday for six different age groups (U6 – U17) in football, and 3 age groups in netball, focusing on developing skills, teamwork, and discipline.
• Health & Wellbeing: We offer health support and education to ensure the children are physically and mentally healthy. This includes providing annual health insurance to all of our participants
• Character Development: Through sport, we teach important life skills like resilience, leadership, and respect.

At the weekend, we organize community matches where the children can put their skills into practice and showcase their progress.

Our Sports

At Akwaaba Volunteers, we offer dynamic sports programs for both boys and girls in our community.

• Boys play football, with age groups ranging from U8 to U17. Football is the heartbeat of many young lives in Ghana, and we’re passionate about helping these kids develop their skills while having fun.
• Girls play netball, with teams for girls aged 7 years and older. Netball is a powerful tool for empowering girls, and we’re proud to see them grow into strong, confident leaders both on and off the court.

Your Role as a Sports Volunteer

As a sports volunteer, you’ll work with one of these age groups, helping to develop their athletic skills, foster a love of the sport, and reinforce the core values we promote. Your role will include:

• Skill Development: Helping kids refine their technique and improve their game.
• Fun and Engagement: Ensuring that the kids are having fun while learning and developing.
• Reiterating Our Values: Instilling important life lessons such as teamwork, discipline, leadership, and respect.
• Inspiring a Love for Sport: Encouraging every child to enjoy the sport they are playing and supporting them as they grow in confidence.

Whether you’re working with young footballers or budding netball stars, your involvement will make a lasting impact on their development and their future.

How We Support Our Participants

This project is not just about sports; it’s about ensuring every child has the resources and support needed to succeed. We provide:

• Training Boots & Kits: Every child receives boots, shoes, and sports kits to ensure they can train comfortably and confidently.
• Health Insurance: We provide health insurance for all participants to keep them safe and covered.
• Family Support: We work with families to offer additional support when needed.
• Educational Scholarships: We ensure that all children are enrolled in school and receive access to educational scholarships if necessary.

Many of the children we serve would otherwise be unable to afford these essential materials for school or sport. We make sure each child is fully immersed in the programme, supported both on and off the pitch.

The Impact of Sport

When the programme started, we had just 30 children in one age group. Today, we have over 250 boys and girls who come to training every day. Of these participants:

• 98% are registered in formal education.
• 99% engage in extra-curricular education through S2S.

Our programme is supported by the local community, with parents now encouraging their children to attend training and learn in a safe, developmental environment.

Tackling Community Issues

We’re using sport to address several key issues facing our community, including:

• Gender Equality: Encouraging equal participation in sports and education for both girls and boys.
• Period Poverty: Providing menstrual health education and access to sustainable menstrual products for young girls.
• Teenage Pregnancies & School Drop-Outs: Offering education and life skills to help prevent early pregnancies and keep children off the street and in school.
• Substance Abuse: Raising awareness and providing alternatives to substance use through sports and mentorship.

We have introduced Sexual and Reproductive Health and Mental Health Education into the programme to tackle stigma and provide young people with the knowledge and support they need to make healthy decisions.

Join Us

Our sports project is an incredible opportunity for positive change in Labadi’s youth, offering them a pathway out of poverty and into a brighter future. Through the power of sport and continued education, we are shaping the next generation of leaders and change-makers.

If you would like to get involved as a partner, corporate sponsor, donor, or volunteer football or netball coach, please get in touch with us by emailing info@akwaabavolunteers.org.uk.

Partners:

• Volta Sports
• Billa Future Stars Academy
• Street to School