United Through Sport

Infrastructure and socioeconomic indicators in the Eastern Cape lag behind other areas of South Africa. Its population suffers from high unemployment, badly equipped schools and a poor healthcare system. Educational opportunities for inhabitants of the Port Elizabeth Township are especially poor: only 3% of students enter tertiary education after high school, compared with 97% of students from top schools in the area. United Through Sport provides underserved young people with increased educational opportunities, using a tiered sport-for-development program to 1) improve emotional well being and increase life skills (teamwork, leadership, decision making, communication); 2) discuss critical issues – by delivering curricula on topics such as HIV/AIDS awareness, and gender equality in a fun and interactive manner on the sports field; and 3) to improve the quality of education – by providing support and pathways for talented and dedicated individuals through supplementary support where the quality of education is poor and also through scholarships to top local schools.

With EMpower’s second grant, United Through Sports uses sports to improve the emotional well being, increase life skills, and educate youth on critical issues such as HIV/AIDs and gender equality, in Port Elizabeth townships. In this grant, United Through Sports is focusing more on improving academic abilities and communication skills with the ultimate goal of helping young people reach tertiary education.

United Through Sports was formerly known as Umzingisi.