In The Community

Ascent Soccer is committed to youth, families and the communities it serves. While our residential academy programs focus on elite soccer, scholastic and character development, we are also determined to make an impact at a grassroots level. Through our regional network, here are just a few of programs we invest in across Southeast Africa.

AGRi-FOOTBALL

Agri-Football combines soccer training and matches, with expert agriculture practitioners, education and demonstration sites to build skills for successful plots and livelihoods for youth.

Agri-Football has run two successful programs, with a focus on engaging a new young audience, increasing self-employment and the market potential of trained youth and market oriented farmers and improving food security for rural households. These successful pilot projects provide the foundation for future Agri-Football initiatives in Southeast Africa.

GIRLS YOUTH LEAGUE

Organized soccer for young girls is still a major challenge in Southeast Africa. In Malawi, Ascent Soccer is putting female opportunities at the fore. This project is piloting the first ‘girl’s only’ youth league in the capital of Lilongwe, thus creating a platform for play, competition and to challenge deeply entrenched gender norms.

The league gives adolescent girls and young women the platform to showcase their talent and develop their football skills, while also serving as an opportunity to drive health education, knowledge and skills to become change agents in their communities.

COMMUNITY COACHING PROGRAM

Ascent Soccer provides free access to grassroots coaching for over 120 children, four-times-a-week on the community pitches outside our academy base at Lingadzi.

This program is a key component of our giveback to the community we operate in. We provide a safe space to develop both football and life-skills, and an environment for these five squads (both male and female players from ages 8 to 17) to have fun!

The community teams also participate in Ascent Soccer manged local leagues and often play friendlies against the academy.

YOUTH EVENTS & COACH EDUCATION

Ascent Soccer has delivered grassroots events, tournaments and coaching clinics that have touched over 75,000 youth and community leaders. These programs aim to bring professional programming and education to rural community leaders and youth, with the aim of supporting skill development and to serve as further inspiration through football.

Across Southeast Africa there continues to be an appetite for even more soccer event, program and educational support. All three needs will continue to be tied to our regional outreach and talent identification events.

SOCCER | SCHOLARSHIP | PEOPLE | PLANET