Sport, education and employability: 14 projects selected under the SESLA initiative
published on 10 February 2025
The Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (SESLA) initiative, supported by the Laureus Sport for Good foundation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), picks up the pace with the selection of 14 projects in eight African countries.
Launched in 2024, SESLA aims to enhance education and improve the employability of young people in Africa through sport. The program provides financial, technical and methodological support to local initiatives using sport as a gateway to addressing the major issue of youth unemployment in Africa – with around 25% neither employed nor in education.
Among the selected projects, the CATCH Trust in South Africa develops sports and educational ecosystems in townships through cricket. Its activity is based on three pillars: quality sports infrastructure, coach training, and personal development programs. By promoting access to sport and professional skills, the project helps young people shape their future.
AFD, host of the Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) 2025 (also held in South Africa) views SESLA as an opportunity to showcase the role of sport in economic, social, and human development in Africa.
The 2025 recipients are:
- Associação Moçambicana de Capoeira (Mozambique)
- Association Pour le Sourire d'un Enfant (Senegal)
- Beder Organisation (Tunisia)
- ChezaCheza Mission Foundation (Kenya)
- CNAEJT / SN (Senegal)
- Deaf Outreach Program (Kenya)
- Friends of Health Initiative (Rwanda)
- Generation Extreme Sports (Tunisia)
- MindLeaps (Rwanda)
- ODDB-ONG (Benin)
- Plan International Rwanda (Rwanda)
- CATCH Trust (South Africa)
- Thousand Hills Rugby (Rwanda)
- United Africa (Morocco)
Find out more about SESLA and the winners on the Laureus Sport for Good foundation website.
