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LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM HAS TAKEN OFF
6 September, 2012
On August 15th, 2012 the Tamale Utrecht Football Academy in partnership with AfriLEAD International organized and presented a one-day orientation workshop for 20 new fellow members of the recently launched Soccer for Life Skills Program. The purpose of this workshop was to provide the Fellows with an in-depth introduction to the workings of the Soccer for Life Skills program and to provide a platform for Fellows to begin building the crucial relationships with peer fellows in their cohort.
This orientation kick starts the one year life skills program. In June 2012, TUFA and its partner, AfriLEAD, begun the design of the Soccer for Life Skills Program as a pilot investment into the professional growth and development of young players in Northern Ghana. Through the Program, we will implement a season long life skills training program targeted at local soccer players in clubs in the northern region. For the 2012 season, we have selected 20 committed and promising players from 14 clubs across the Tamale Metropolis to participate in the maiden edition of the fellowship program.
Mr Awin Peter, CEO of AfriLEAD, the implementing partner of this program explained that the life skills program was designed to facilitate the development of the psychological skills that are required to deal with the demands and challenges of everyday life. He added that during the design process AfriLEAD International led the team to conduct a feasibility study to validate the need for a life skills program by local footballers and that the new fellowship is a respond to the critical life skill training needs of footballers in the country. He said in view of the fact that Ghana is a football country where every child’s dream is to play football; there is the need to create catalytic learning environment where the young players can develop not just football skills but essential life skills needed to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life.
He also mentioned that the life skills program is equally relevant to other youngsters who are not able to make it in the football career. “Just a few of them will make it to the top; the critical question is what happens to the many who cannot make it beyond the grassroot level” he asked. “If we don’t prepare them well for life, they would definitely join the many jobless youth out there, that is why the soccer for life skills program was design” he added.
The program this year will include enhancing each player’s decision-making, problem solving, communication and interpersonal skills, self-awareness, empathy and ability to cope with emotions and stress.
The soccer for Life Program comprises four core components including training workshops to be organized four times in the year and regular individual life coaching session with fellows to support their individual reflection and reinforcement of key behaviour change messages that we teach in the group workshops. Other Components include community outreach activities intended to engage fellows in social change activities, and to serve as role model for other upcoming youngsters in their local communities and a Soccer Celebrity Ambassador’s Event which will provide an opportunity for fellows to work hand in hand with both active and retired professional footballers on social causes while they learn important life experience from them.