Budyz create safe spaces for kids

SOCCER BUDYZ OFFERS SCHOOL EXTRAMURALS AND OTHER PROGRAMMES.

- AVRIL FILLIES

The non-profit organisation (NPO) Soccer Budyz in Athlone was founded in 2017 by Fernando Classen with a mission rooted in community upliftment. Recognising the powerful role football can play in creating safe spaces and teaching valuable life skills he launched the programme to address a gap in early-childhood development.

"The journey began with coaching sessions at Genesis Educare, my local church crèche, and has since grown into a city-wide initiative. Our vision is to use football as a tool for empowerment, education and development. We aim to make football accessible to children across Cape Town while simultaneously creating employment opportunities for youth coaches," he says.