Using soccer to help vulnerable children in Africa

The FIFA World Cup 2014 is currently taking place in Brazil. Even if South Africa is not playing in the tournament, millions of South Africans – our staff included – are passionately and excitedly following the biggest Football event in Brazil. Check out our Facebook Page to read some exciting stories about what is happening inside Ambassadors Football around the world during this time, especially in the participating nations.

Happy faces in Soweto
As you can see on the photos Hope Academy Soweto's sponsor, LegalWise, has provided a pair of jeans and a fun t-shirt for each of our young players in Soweto. We are grateful for LegalWise' recommitment to support us in running the Ambassadors Football LegalWise Hope Academy.They also hosted a financial workshop at the Academy at the beginning of June. This was attended by some of the parents and other community members.

In this newsletter we'd like to introduce our Hope Academy Soweto Head Coach. Find out about the roles, passion and day-to-day duties of all our Ambassadors Football South Africa staff members on our website.

Sam Pam played for Nigeria, Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates and uses more than 20 years of experience as a professional player and coach to guide the young people he coaches at the Academy and at a local school. At Hope Academy Soweto Sam also oversees the running of the coaching department. Through his passion for football Sam has found the purpose God created him for and he loves to see young people also find their God designed destiny.

Thanks for partnering with us!

Dear Supporters,

In Soweto coaches and players resumed their program in February. The Soweto team tries to get the parents more involved in partnering in the children's support. This exciting process has already started and we have had 87% of parents attending meetings. As part of developing the families behind the children we are planning Financial literacy workshops for the parents in June.

The Academy players are growing and so are their feet. All of them need new soccer boots. We are in the midst of financial constraints regarding the running of the academy. We have been looking into restructuring in Soweto as an option, to be better prepared for the future. To ease the financial situation and cover the running costs we are looking for an additional funding amount of R10 000 per month.

Neo, Hope Academy’s U13 goalkeeper, joined the Academy in 2010 and has been growing not only in his football abilities but also in character. Neo is one of the 7 Hope Academy kids that have been recognised as leaders at their respective schools and appointed as captains of their respective football teams. It is evident that the Hope Academy kids are being recognised as a positive influence on their peers and that the values and life skills taught by the Academy are bearing fruit in shaping Neo and other kids’ character. On top of this Neo’s mother has been assisting Hope Academy in adding value to the life of Academy kids. She has donated stationary to the Academy and has also been supporting our recycling initiative by collecting cans from her place of employment. Hope Academy has not only touched Neo’s life but also the lives of his family, teachers and fellow learners, in other words his whole community. He is indeed developing into an oak of righteousness.

All this investment in Neo’s life and those of the other kids would not have been possible without your support. You are true vision enablers and may the Lord bless you!