DONATE
May 27, 2019

Kick start our players to keep them in school

During a visit to the village of Ngaramtoni, Arusha, Tanzania in 2016 and, after speaking to the families of the young players at Lengo Football Academy, we (Emanuel Saakai – Founder and Roxanne Strauss – Chairperson) soon realised that one of the best ways we could support our players was to help them transition to […]

Kick start our players to keep them in school

During a visit to the village of Ngaramtoni, Arusha, Tanzania in 2016 and, after speaking to the families of the young players at Lengo Football Academy, we (Emanuel Saakai – Founder and Roxanne Strauss – Chairperson) soon realised that one of the best ways we could support our players was to help them transition to their next year of school. In response we developed the Lengo School Kick Starter Program.

In just over two years your generosity has helped us increase the number of players we are able to put through school from 14 in 2017 to 45 last year and in 2019 we are supporting a whopping 69 players to continue with their education. Thank you so much to everyone! Education holds the key for those in our Arusha community to break the cycle of poverty and provide for their family and fellow community members.

In many ways the Kick Starter Program mirrors the phenomenal progress Lengo has made in the past two years that includes partnering with the global Football for Friendship program, sponsoring Mamas like Evelyn to start their own businesses, developing a strong U16 girls team in which half are representing Arusha City in a national competition and, in Australia, starting a successful social enterprise to cover Lengo administration costs. Like our Kick Starter players, we believe Lengo is poised on the cusp of a breakthrough, evolving to be equipped to compete for a broader range of funding to support our goals.

We fully understand how difficult it is to continually be asked to contribute. All our volunteers in Australia – 100 per cent unpaid – and in Tanzania have worked hard to find new income streams. We are pleased to advise that currently our administration costs are being covered by our football school program in Australia.

At the end of this tax year we are respectfully asking, if you have the wish or ability to make a charitable donation of any size, that you support Lengo once again, to sustain those less well off in our community in Arusha living on less than $1 a day. As our administrations costs are being covered, 100% of your donation will go directly to keeping our players in school.

It’s the end of the financial year in Australia, which means it is time to do your taxes. The Federal Government’s income tax package handed down in the Budget in April (yet to be ratified by Parliament) gives tax rebates of up to $1,000 for all low and medium range income earners. We have deductible gift recipient (DGR) status and can offer a tax deduction for donations over $2. When you make a donation to Lengo Football Academy you will be providing our young players with the opportunity to continue going to school five days a week. Your donation will impact the rest of their lives and help break the cycle of poverty that currently exists.

Over the years our academy has grown significantly and we now have more than 200 players. Our aim this year is to raise enough to support 100 players to continue their secondary school education in 2020.

We need your help!

One of our most senior players and coach, Goodluck Noah is now studying to become a doctor thanks to the kindness of Lengo donor David Lye and his family from Sydney. Goodluck commented: “Our children are so happy to be able to continue to go to school. While school can be very hard sometimes, they know they need to finish so they can get a job and support their family for their entire lives. Thanks to David and Lengo Football Academy who have changed my life, I am now going to become a doctor which I could not even have imagined being possible otherwise. I love being part of this community and as a doctor I want to give something back.”

Each year we purchase a kick starter pack for each player we support.

These packs include:

  • 2 x school uniforms
  • 1 new pair of shoes
  • 2 new pairs of socks
  • 10 x exercise books
  • 5 x pens
  • Lunch for 12 months

The investment is only $100 per player.

You can make a difference to a young player’s life by donating any amount you can to the School Kick Starter program today. Help ignite change in their lives today by donating to keep them in school.

We thank you in advance for your support.

Be blessed.

Emanuel Saakai – Founder
Roxanne Strauss – Chairperson

Next article

Meet Lidya
Read