BUREF

The power of sport as a tool for positive social impact cannot be overemphasised (Laureus, 2000; UN, 2005; FIFA, 2006). It is categorically accepted that sport can be used to convey awareness on health, prevent physical and psychological illnesses, support access to quality education, strengthen community solidarity and promote gender equality (UEFA, 2015; UNICEF, 2018; streetfootballworld, 2019). The BUREF (Building resilience through football) project banks on this evidence and the experience of Watoto Wasoka over the last decade to mobilise, educate and empower slum children through football. The project seeks to support vulnerable children from the slums of Kampala in Uganda to tackle the negative social impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and its related lockdowns/isolations through access to sport, health education and social cohesion. Access to sport is an effective psychotherapy for vulnerable children in overcoming depression, anxiety and abuse (Mental Health Foundation, 2010; The FA, 2015; Sport Relief, 2017) which have been evident in the last couple of years due to the pandemic. Premised on this evidence, the BUREF project will advance access to sport and education, mental health and social cohesion as well as inclusion to build resilience through a mixture of trainings, leagues, workshops as well as education and personal development opportunities for 1,250 boys and girls in the slums of Kampala, Uganda