Events

Scottish charity launches groundbreaking football academy in Rwanda and calls on elite youth coaches to help change lives A Scottish football charity is seeking experienced youth coaches to volunteer at a newly launched football academy in Rwanda, East Africa – a pioneering project designed to transform grassroots football in one of the country’s most deprived regions. Karongi Football Academy officially opened in October 2025 and already works with 280 children aged between eight and 18. Remarkably, it is the first and only girls’ football academy in Rwanda, with a long-term ambition of achieving a 50/50 gender split. The academy is funded entirely through the efforts of Scottish youth players and coaches who travel to Rwanda on trips organised by registered charity Scottish Football for Rwanda. Now, the charity is inviting experienced coaches to help mentor and support its growing team of Rwandan coaches on the ground. Former St Mirren and Airdrie manager Danny Lennon is among the first high-profile names to get involved, travelling to Rwanda in June 2026 alongside Hibs Women midfielder Ellis Notley and Livingston FC Women’s coach Michael Wilson. A game-changing project Chief Executive Carey McEvoy outlined the origins and ambitions of the academy. “Since 2020, we’ve been taking groups of Scottish youth players and coaches to Rwanda with the backing of clubs such as Hearts and Spartans, as well as the Scottish FA,” McEvoy said. “When the Rwandan FA (FERWAFA) asked us to focus our efforts on youth development in the Karongi region – an area that has been long-deprived – the academy was born.” Thanks to the generosity of volunteers and supporters, the academy is already redefining what youth football looks like in Rwanda. Every player now owns a pair of football boots – a significant step forward in a country where many children traditionally play barefoot or in crocs. Each child also has their own football, rather than sharing one or two between an entire squad, allowing for structured training sessions rather than informal matches. Portable floodlights have also been introduced, a crucial development in a country where darkness falls at 6pm all year round. Small-sided games, appropriate goals and modern coaching practices – commonplace in Scotland – are being implemented for the first time in the region. “It’s completely changing the model,” McEvoy added. “These are basic things by Scottish standards, but in Rwanda they’re transformational.” The long-term vision is to establish senior men’s and women’s teams representing the Karongi district, competing in Rwanda’s national leagues for the first time in many years. Passing on experience Beyond equipment and facilities, coach education sits at the heart of the project. Groups of Scottish coaches will visit Rwanda three times each year, working closely with local coaches to develop a sustainable, culturally appropriate coaching model. “Not everything we do in Scotland will automatically work in Rwanda,” McEvoy explained. “That’s why having experienced coaches like Danny and Michael working alongside the Karongi team is so important – together they’ll shape an approach that’s right for Rwandan children.” The trips themselves have proven hugely impactful, with several coaches returning multiple times after being inspired by their first visit. More than football While football is the foundation, the academy’s wider mission is about education and opportunity. Players aged 16 and over are offered vocational training, learning practical trade skills to support them beyond their playing careers. A player sponsorship programme also helps provide school lunches – a critical intervention in a country where education is free, but meals are not. “Many children go without lunch, which affects both their learning and their performance on the pitch,” McEvoy said. “We know from other projects that something as simple as a school meal can dramatically improve attendance, focus and achievement.” How to get involved There are limited spaces available for experienced youth coach volunteers across all three trips scheduled for 2026 and 2027. More information is available at: www.rwandafootball.org/trips To sponsor an academy player, visit: www.rwandafootball.org/academy