Good Health and Climate Action through Football

Context

Young people in Lesotho face many severe and overlapping health challenges that negatively impact their well-being and prospects, including:

• The world’s second highest prevalence of HIV and a lack of access to HIV testing and counselling.
• High levels of gender-based violence.
• A lack of access to sanitation facilities and poor standards of hygiene, contributing to the spread of preventable diseases such as TB.
• An accelerating COVID-19 infection rate.
• Drug and alcohol abuse.
• Extremely high levels of poverty and food insecurity.
• An urgent need for mental health support, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A reduction in vital resources due to climate change.

The young people engaged in the programme come from a range of underprivileged and vulnerable backgrounds, including:

• Children living on the street.
• HIV-positive youth.
• Orphans.
• Teenage mothers.
• Children living in poverty.
• At-risk children and vulnerable girls.
• Children engaged in child labour.

Project content

The project focuses on improving the health and long-term prospects of Lesotho’s youth, with an enhanced emphasis on gender equality and reducing gender-based violence. It tackles issues such as HIV prevention, hygiene, nutrition and urgent COVID-19 health education, as well as facilitating referrals to specialist healthcare providers. The project also develops key life skills, empowering participants to protect the health of people and the planet. Participants are also encouraged to take part in other Kick4Life activities such as employability programmes and training and employment opportunities within its hospitality social enterprises.

The expanded project also aims to reduce the health impact of climate change, with new sessions on water conservation, biodiversity and preventing land degradation. A Youth Climate Action Group will be set up to drive climate action by young people across Lesotho.

Objectives

The project aims to increase the health-related knowledge of 5,000 young people through a football-based curriculum in order to improve their physical and mental health, well-being and nutrition and reduce their vulnerability to HIV and COVID‑19. The project’s outcomes are aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being), 5 (gender equality), and 13 (climate action).

Project activities