Location and general information
Access to Sport - 
Gender Equality - 
Healthy lifestyle - 
Personal developmentContext
Tanzania continues to face significant challenges with regard to young people’s mental health, gender inequality and limited access to safe sports activities, particularly for girls in rural and underserved communities. Cultural norms, poverty and a lack of trained educators restrict girls’ participation in sports and open discussions about mental health. In Zanzibar, these challenges are even more pronounced due to stronger social and cultural barriers. The schools are not equipped to handle the mental health needs of young people despite higher levels of stress, significant school dropout rates and gender inequality among young people.
Mpira is Swahili for ball. Fursa means opportunity.
Project goals
- Strengthen the systems and capacities of schools and Folk Development Colleges.
- Enhance youth mental health literacy and life skills.
- Promote inclusion, gender equality and community support to improve young people’s well-being.
Project content
The project uses football to promote mental health literacy among 14 to 18-year-olds, with a strong focus on girls in Zanzibar and underserved areas on the mainland. It builds on the proven benefits of physical activity – reducing stress, improving mood, and fostering social bonds – and creates safe spaces for open dialogue, peer support and referral to local services.
The project provides football-based mental health education through stakeholder engagement, institutional partnerships and the development of a standardised training guide. Teachers and facilitators receive training and materials on mental health literacy and implement integrated football and mental health education programmes in 12 secondary schools and six Folk Development Colleges/Alternative Learning and Adult Education Centres.
Girls’ and boys’ football teams are formed and community football tournaments organised, with structured dialogue on mental health and gender equality.
Partners
