A cultural exchange with the uniting love for soccer

LdB FC For Life has it’s base in the heart of Zululand in North Eastern South Africa. 41 schools have been introduced to the unique women’s soccer program that allows girls, from deep rural communities, to grow on and off the pitch.

In Sweden the soccer stars playing for LdB FC are ambassadors for the program. They are paired with one or two schools and one Friendship club each. As mentors the players are acting to establish a strong network between Swedish and South African youth where the love for soccer is the common ground. The LdB FC players have visited, and will continue to visit, schools involved in LdB FC For Life as well as the Friendship clubs, and the goal is to create a forum for communication in the Internet webpage where thoughts, experiences and dreams can be shared. Within a year we hope that 20,000 South African girls will have a friend each in a Swedish football team and vice versa.

The youth in the area are strong, multi-talented and lively, but they are facing a lot of challenges. KwaZulu Natal is hard stricken by unemployment, poverty and short life expectancy where HIV and AIDS are playing a disastrous role.

As youth are playing the utmost important role in reducing the spread of HIV and in building a strong society, it is to them we must give support. Estimations tell that almost half of all the women in KwaZulu Natal carry the HIV-virus, which makes us strongly believe it is by strengthening the girls’ self esteem and position we can make the greatest difference.

Using the love for soccer, LdB FC has worked to strengthen the psychological, social and physical health amongst the soccer-playing girls, since 2008.

READ ANNA'S BLOG
ABOUT THE SCHOOLS

Facts

Of the 40 million people in the world suffering from HIV and AIDS, more than a quarter are between 15 and 24 years of age. Half of all new infections are in the 15-24 age group; a figure that is expected to double by 2010.
The North Eastern part of South Africa is one of the world’s most affected regions. Many villages have lost whole generations and a great number of children have no adult role figures.