Our founders
TackleAfrica was founded in May 2002 by a group of young people from the UK who had all lived or worked in Africa at some point in their lives. They recognised the potential of football as a means of bringing people together, and providing a platform from which to convey hugely important messages about HIV and AIDS.
Our coaches and partners
In early 2007, TackleAfrica started to take the shape it has today. We piloted a unique way of combining HIV education directly into football coaching drills, publishing the first edition of our HIV education through football coaching manual later the same year. The success of this led to an expansion of our curricula, and we now have a wide range of football coaching manuals covering all aspects of HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Through partnerships with local organisations, we train their football coaches to work with thousands of players. From small beginnings, TackleAfrica now has programmes in twelve African countries, with a huge network of trained football coaches delivering messages on HIV and SRHR issues to football teams week in, week out.
Our Governance
TackleAfrica is governed by a Trustee Board, and small staff teams in the UK and each of the countries we work in.
Our volunteers
We have a thriving volunteer network whose passion for both football and our work greatly increase our capacity and skill-base. Through their commitment, time and enthusiasm, our volunteers assist all aspects of what we do including, football coaching, PR, marketing and fundraising. If you are interested in volunteering for TackleAfrica in the UK or in Africa, please visit https://tackleafrica.org/get-involved/ or contact info@tackleafrica.org
Our networks
We see relationships and partnerships with companies, trusts and other charities as a key way to improve and scale our work. In August 2016, Coaching for Hope became part of TackleAfrica, allowing two of the UK’s leading international sport for development organisations to pool talent, share learning and provide an even better service to young people in Africa. TackleAfrica also play an active role in contributing to the wider Sport for Development sector in the UK and Africa, as well as being members of a number of HIV and SRHR consortia. If you’re interested in exploring a partnership with TackleAfrica, please contact charlie.gamble@tackleafrica.org
Click here for a list of some of our partners.
What We Do
TackleAfrica uses the power and popularity of football to deliver HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services to young people on football pitches across the continent.
We do this by training African football coaches, games teachers and community leaders to use fun, interactive football sessions with inbuilt health messaging with their players. Alongside receiving sexual health information during football sessions, players also have the chance to access sexual health services at sessions and football tournaments, such as HIV testing, condoms and other contraception, and referrals to further clinical services.
Vision and Mission
Our vision is an Africa where all young men and women have the information, understanding, confidence, freedom and resources to make the right choices to protect themselves and each other from HIV.
Values and Behaviours
TackleAfrica informs, supports and challenges young Africans to make safer decisions, limiting the impact of HIV in their communities and helping them assert their sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR).
In undertaking this activity, we are, as individuals and as an organisation:
•Committed to operational excellence
•Passionate for innovation with proven success
•Respectful of individual choice
Our mission is to provide young African men and women with HIV and SRHR support through football coaching that will have a significant positive impact on their decision making and behaviour, limiting the impact of HIV within their communities.