Clarkston Garden FC

Context

Since the mid-1990s, the American town of Clarkston in Georgia has been the resettlement point for thousands of displaced persons from around the world, earning it the title of the ‘Ellis Island of the South’. Soccer in the Streets uses football as a common language to help displaced youngsters integrate into society.

Clarkston’s Garden FC project builds on this common language and helps youth – especially girls – become young leaders who can contribute to a healthy and equitable community.

Project content

The Garden FC project uses community gardens located at the football pitch as a hub for activities that enable young people to establish a relationship between sport, nutrition, food security and community well-being. Football training includes on-field leadership activities. After training, youngsters and their families cultivate the gardens together and are able to enjoy the food they harvest. A differentiated experience for girls addresses specific challenges they face both on and off the field.

Objectives

• Give displaced youngsters access to football
• Educate players on the link between nutrition, physical activity and well-being
• Teach players how to grow their own food
• Build youth leadership capacity
• Create differentiated experience for girls

Project activities

• Football training sessions
• In-practice leadership sessions with a focus on the girls
• Nutrition workshops
• Gardening training
• Community gardening events

Expected results

• 150 players take part in football sessions
• 30% of players complete the nutrition and well-being curriculum
• 100% of girls receive leadership sessions
• 35% of players show improvement in self-management and relationship skills