Laureus Sport for Good awards: Two African teams shortlisted

Two inspirational African social programmes have been nominated for the upcoming Laureus Sport for Good awards.

Boxgirls, based in Nairobi, Kenya, has been recognised for its use of boxing to challenge gender stereotypes and empower young women; while Made for More employ sport as a transformational tool for young people with disabilities from their base in Durban, South Africa.

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These projects – along with three other Sport for Good programmes from around the world – will be celebrated alongside some of the greatest athletes of all time at next month’s Laureus World Sports Awards. Six other categories are voted for by the Laureus World Sports Academy, a group of 71 sporting legends who together form the ultimate sporting jury.

The other categories are: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Laureus World Team of the Year, Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year, Laureus World Comeback of the Year and Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year.

Nominees include Lionel Messi and Rafael Nadal in the Sportsman of the Year category; Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Iga Świątek for Sportswoman of the Year; and Tiger Woods and Klay Thompson in the Comeback of the Year category.

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Boxgirls – also shortlisted for the Award in 2021 – sets out to both build athletic skills and develop confidence and leadership in the young women who connect with the project, many of whom face extreme inequality and violence within the disenfranchised communities in which they live. The programme reaches out to schools to offer girls the chance of boxing training, peer coaching and the development of key life skills.

On receiving news of their inclusion on the shortlist, Boxgirls Facilitator Mercy Odero said: “I want to jump and scream and shout because this is a clear message that our work is impactful in all communities and the world is going to be a better place for girls and young women.”  

Grace Buliba, a mini coach and a previous participant at Boxgirls, added: “I grew up under the wings of Boxgirls and I’m now at the organisation as a young woman giving back to my community. I’m super happy because the more recognition, the more girls will be reached and will learn about the beautiful work the organisation does.”  

Durban-based Made for More focuses on inclusion for people with disabilities, who can be isolated and ignored due to stigma and ignorance. The programme unlocks a passion for sport and uses it as a transformational tool, equipping and empowering the young people. Activities delivered by Made for More include a training camp based around Paralympic sports, an adapted surfing programme, as well as clinical and psychosocial support.

Founding Director of Made for More, Julia Van Zyl, said:“We had goosebumps reading that we had been shortlisted for this prestigious Award and are very grateful for the opportunity to create more awareness around inclusion through this incredible platform.”

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South African rugby legend and Laureus Academy Member Bryan Habana is a long-term advocate for the work of Laureus Sport for Good. Bryan said:“Congratulations to both Boxgirls and Made for More on being shortlisted for the 2023 Sport for Good Award, inspirational to see two African programmes on this year’s shortlist. Laureus Sport for Good is supporting more than 275 programmes worldwide who each use sport to help young people overcome violence, discrimination and inequality. Both Boxgirls and Made for More are wonderful examples of using sport to do good. In 2000, our Patron Nelson Mandela said ‘Sport has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does’ and both programme’s efforts in using sport in their communities is proof that those words still ring true today.”

Laureus Sport for Good was inspired by Nelson Mandela’s words at the first Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco in 2000: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”

Laureus Sport for Good now funds, supports and implements more than 275 sports-based community programmes in over 50 countries and territories that use sport to combat violence, discrimination and disadvantage faced by young people. Together with our partners, Laureus Sport for Good has reached and helped change the lives of more than six and a half million children and young people since 2000.

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2023 LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD AWARD SHORTLIST

Programmes shortlisted by a specialist selection panel; Laureus Academy select the Award recipient

Boxgirls (Kenya) Boxing – empowering young women and challenging stereotypes

High Five (Germany) Action Sports – helping migrant and orphaned children integrate into new communities

Made For More (South Africa) Multi-sport – making sport inclusive for people with disabilities

Slum Soccer (India) Football –supporting homeless young people through sport and education

TeamUp (Global) Movement –children affected by war, conflict improve psychosocial wellbeing through physical activity, developed by War Child, Save the Children and UNICEF the Netherlands

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