The Project
“Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can… sport can create hope… it is an instrument for Peace” Nelson Mandela
Soccer unites nations, communities and individuals. The legacy of the Barefootball project is to inspire intercultural collaboration, peace and education in the underprivileged and multicultural community of Westlake, using the vehicle of a youth soccer program.
Underprivileged youth can learn the key lessons of life through sports. Through its values and rules, sport goes beyond social, political, cultural, racial or religious differences that are often at the core of conflicts in the world. Sport has the power to make young people aware of universal values such as respect for other individuals and cultures, playing by rules, and settling differences without violence. Sport is also an excellent platform for educating youth about important social issues such as HIV awareness.
Westlake is a displaced and underprivileged community, consisting of 6-7000 members. The community lies sandwiched between Pollsmore Prison, a golf course and an up-market business complex, and has little room for expansion. The infrastructure consists of a community center, 650 houses and 700 informal dwellings. The community faces several social and cultural and issues, including unemployment, lack of a local school, a 30% HIV infection rate and intercultural conflict based on the number of immigrants from Zimbabwe and Malawi who have moved into the community.