Sport can transform lives by building confidence, developing life skills, creating friendships and giving children and young people a sense of belonging.
However, Kick4Life says these benefits can only be fully realised when children feel safe and protected while participating.
Through its Safe in Sport project, Kick4Life is working to create safer sporting environments where every child, particularly girls, can participate confidently, safely and equally.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen safeguarding in Lesotho’s sporting sector while challenging harmful gender stereotypes and cultural practices that can limit the participation of women and girls in sport.
Kick4Life partnered with Touch Roots Africa (TRA), a Lesotho non-governmental organisation specialising in safeguarding, to establish an independent and confidential Safe in Sport Reporting Mechanism. The mechanism allows anyone involved in sport to report abuse and access support.
Developed under Common Goal’s Equal Play Fund, the mechanism is independently delivered by TRA and provides confidential and anonymous reporting channels, independent handling of reports and referrals to psychosocial, medical and legal support.
The mechanism is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing national safeguarding policies and reporting procedures, as well as those operated by individual sports clubs and organisations.
Kick4Life Community Programmes Manager ‘MaphokaRamokoatsi said creating safe spaces for girls was particularly important because safety concerns often prevent them from participating in sport.
“For many girls in Lesotho, the biggest barrier to sport is not talent, but it is feeling safe enough to participate. Most parents are also hesitant to let their girl children join sports because of safety concerns,” she said.
Ramokoatsi said the Safe in Sport project had helped create an environment where girls could participate without fear.
“When girls feel safe to participate, they also find their voice, build confidence and begin to believe that they belong in sport. Just like myself, I was once that girl who unleashed her potential through sport,” she said.
As part of the initiative, Kick4Life and TRA brought together schools, sports teams, federations, communities and government stakeholders to raise awareness about safeguarding, strengthen referral pathways and build the capacity of people responsible for protecting children.
The organisations also held a participatory workshop to develop a practical safeguarding and child protection training guide, focusing on prevention, reporting and response.
The guide was designed to be accessible and easy to understand and can be used by schools, clubs, federations and other organisations working with children and young people.
A total of 66 participants from schools, sports clubs and federations took part in safeguarding training.
The safeguarding message was subsequently taken onto the football pitch through the Safe in Sport League, which ran from March to July 2026.
The league brought together eight primary schools – Tsolo Government, Boitelo, Thamae, St James, Mohloli, Ratjomose, Motumi and Qoaling Primary Schools.
Football was used as a platform to promote life skills, safeguarding, gender equity and the wellbeing of children and young people.
Alongside football activities, participants discussed issues including respect, equality, inclusion, safe relationships and the importance of speaking up when something does not feel right.
The programme highlighted that safeguarding goes beyond policies and procedures, requiring children to have the knowledge and confidence to recognise unsafe behaviour and report concerns.
A mixed-gender tournament was also included in the league, bringing boys and girls together to challenge gender stereotypes and promote shared responsibility for creating safe sporting environments.
The involvement of boys was considered important because they can contribute to challenging harmful gender norms, promoting respect and helping create safer environments for both girls and boys.
The programme also strengthened Kick4Life’s relationships with schools and communities, with regular engagement involving teachers, coaches and school representatives helping improve communication and reinforce the message that child protection is a shared responsibility.
Among the young participants was 13-year-old Kananelo from Tsolo Government Primary School, who was named Player of the Tournament in the mixed-gender competition.
Kananelo was recognised for her football performance as well as her active participation in the project’s theoretical sessions.
She said the league had taught her that sport should be about more than competition and winning.
“The Safe in Sport League taught us that sport is about playing and winning. It is also about fair play, safety and caring for one another,” she said.
Kananelo said participants had also learnt about treating others with respect and taking responsibility for creating safe sporting environments.
“It is especially important for girls to feel safe in sports because when girls are afraid of getting hurt or facing situations that make them uncomfortable, they may choose to stop playing,” she said.
She added that unsafe situations needed to be prevented so girls could continue participating and demonstrate their abilities.
Through Safe in Sport, Kick4Life and TRA are seeking to make safeguarding an integral part of sport in Lesotho by strengthening systems, building partnerships and giving children opportunities to learn, participate and speak up.
The initiative demonstrates how football can be used not only to develop sporting talent but also to promote confidence, equality, respect and child protection.
Summary
- The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen safeguarding in Lesotho’s sporting sector while challenging harmful gender stereotypes and cultural practices that can limit the participation of women and girls in sport.
- Kick4Life partnered with Touch Roots Africa (TRA), a Lesotho non-governmental organisation specialising in safeguarding, to establish an independent and confidential Safe in Sport Reporting Mechanism.
- As part of the initiative, Kick4Life and TRA brought together schools, sports teams, federations, communities and government stakeholders to raise awareness about safeguarding, strengthen referral pathways and build the capacity of people responsible for protecting children.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
