Safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation are basic necessities for a healthy life. Now, as COVID-19 highlights disparities around the globe, these needs are more important than ever.

With help from Anike Foundation, Football Without Borders applied for and received a $2,500 grant from Ironman Foundation to raise health awareness in South Africa. The Wash4Sport Program educated young participants on water sanitation and hygiene and provided personal protective equipment (masks and sanitizers).

Who is Football Without Borders?

Football (aka “soccer” in the US) is, arguably, the most popular sport in the world. With billions of fans around the globe, football can motivate, inspire and bring people together—players, coaches and spectators alike.

Football Without Borders uses the power of football as a vehicle for social development by equipping youth with community leadership skills to help them solve difficult problems, such as substance abuse, gender inequality, sexual and reproductive health, and access to education.

The Wash4Sport Project

Wash4Sport is a Football Without Borders program specifically developed to #KickOutCOVID19 by promoting hygiene and sanitation changes amongst communities. These changes are critical in the battle against the virus as hand hygiene saves lives.

Using the grant from Ironman Foundation, Football Without Borders hosted a fun-filled two-day Wash4Sport tournament. The event included four boys’ and girls’ football teams and four girls’ netball teams. While participants enjoyed the games, they also received important education from UNICEF and Save Water as representatives explained the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal Number 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

Each football/netball team then demonstrated their newfound knowledge, through either a poem or poster, on how water and sanitation affected their communities. Each team also demonstrated a football or netball related game related the same issues.

Final Thoughts

The event was a success! With a total of 240 participants (80 boys and 160 girls), Wash4Sport relayed invaluable information regarding sanitation and hygiene to a sizeable audience.

However, more can be done!

How can you Help?

A small amount can make a big difference. Click here to find out how to support Football Without Borders as they use sport as a tool for development, effectively change hygiene behavior, and #KickOutCOVID19.