Ubuntu Empower Football Programme Calls for Support to Keep Khayelitsha Holiday Club Running

Photo Credit: Ubuntu Empower Academy

The Ubuntu Empower Football Programme supports 65 children through sport, education, mentorship and nutrition, with organisers now raising funds to sustain its holiday club.

Cape Town, South Africa (15 June 2026) – For dozens of children in Site C, Khayelitsha, the school holidays are about far more than time away from the classroom. They are an opportunity to remain connected to a safe environment, positive role models and a programme designed to help them build a brighter future.

The Ubuntu Empower Football Programme, run by non-profit organisation Urban Think Tank Empower, currently supports 65 young people through a combination of football coaching, academic tutoring, mentorship and life-skills development.

The programme was established to provide children with a structured and supportive space in a community where many young people face challenges linked to poverty, gang activity and substance abuse.

While football remains at the heart of the initiative, the programme’s vision extends well beyond the pitch.

Its “dual dream” approach uses sport as a vehicle to encourage discipline, determination and ambition, while also promoting education and personal development. The programme provides equal opportunities for boys and girls, with participants receiving academic support, mentorship and guidance aimed at helping them succeed both on and off the field.

A further component of the initiative focuses on food security, with nutritious meals helping ensure that children are healthy, nourished and able to participate fully in both their studies and sporting activities.

With the school holidays approaching, however, one of the programme’s most important offerings is facing an uncertain future.

The Ubuntu Empower Holiday Club, which provides daily structure, supervision and positive engagement during school breaks, is at risk after the programme’s initial donor funding was not renewed.

For many participants, the holiday club offers more than recreational activities. It provides a safe space where children can continue learning, stay active and remain connected to trusted mentors during a period when they may be particularly vulnerable to negative influences.

Urban Think Tank Empower is now appealing for public support to help sustain and expand the programme’s work in the community.

Those who would like to contribute towards the Ubuntu Empower Football Programme and Holiday Club can do so through the initiative’s crowdfunding campaign by following the link here.