Using the power of soccer to fight HIV/AIDS

Teams from eight nations will travel to Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to compete over two days for the second ever Africa Women’s Cup. The 4-a-side street football tournament took place for the first time in June 2024 in Arusha, Tanzania.

Teams from Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe took part in the first edition of the tournament. Uganda became the inaugural champions after beating hosts Tanzania in the final 6-1.

The Africa Women’s Cup is part of a two-year collaborative project between the Homeless World Cup Foundation, the FIFA Foundation and four national delivery partners which all represent Homeless World Cup Member Countries: Vijana Amani Pamoja (Kenya), Future Stars Academy (Tanzania), Bauleni United Sports Academy (Zambia) and Young Achievement Sports for Development (Zimbabwe).

The project ‘Football to Protect Vulnerable Women from Exploitation’ started in December 2023 and will run until December 2025. Together with the four delivery partners, the project has developed a new curriculum to educate both men and women, as well as young girls and boys, on gender-based violence and gender equality.

The programme uses football as a key engagement tool, which helps to break down barriers and reduce stigma when tackling such a sensitive subject. The curriculum has been introduced in all four delivery partner countries with hundreds of people already benefitting from the newly established programme.

Kenya is the regional hub for the project and a fitting place to hold the second Africa Women’s Cup. Nancy, Project Regional Hub Manager and Head of Programmes at Vijana Amani Pamoja said: “Given the alarming statistics we're seeing today. Now more than ever, we must come together through the power of sports to empower women and ignite conversations that challenge norms surrounding gender-based violence. By using this space, we can work towards a safer future for women.”

The tournament is a highlight of the programme for the participants, giving them the unique opportunity to represent their country at an international tournament. For many of the players, it is their first chance to travel outside their country and experience a new culture.

Rutendo  who represented Zimbabwe at the Africa Women’s Cup 2024 in Arusha, Tanzania said: “I think we have a different perception about what homelessness is, and yet it’s just a group of people coming together to showcase how best they can have fun and leave those sorrows and stresses back home. This has been wonderful and welcoming and world-changing for me personally.”

As the world marked the International Day of a girl child on 11^th October was part of the celebration as it held its girls tournament at its Youth Empowerment Hub.A total of 8 schools were winners and runners up from primary and high schools from around Nairobi’s underserved communities qualified to play to the top 4 tournament.

 The day was graced by the Metropolitan Hospital who offered free first aid services, body tests on BMI, nutrition, Dental checkups and EDARP specialized on HIV test for all attendees embrace self-efficacy and behavior change towards the spread of HIV virus amongst youth. They created awareness on personal body health in a celebration mood to appreciate their bodies, and protect themselves as they marked the International Day of the Girl Child.

The girls in the company of their teachers cheered for each other till end. They appreciated their efforts throughout and, no matter the results they still enjoyed the day with freedom to showcase their abilities and most importantly the health service they received from Metropolitan hospital.

A total of 302 girls were tested on their HIV status from EDARP despite receiving other health services that were provided at the site. Community members and teachers of the teams were also beneficiaries of the free health services that was provided at the site.