Banda Bola Sports Foundation began operating in 2009. Kalekeni Banda, a US Women’s college soccer coach and native of Malawi, Africa, saw that soccer could be used to promote gender equality and to encourage children to attend school. Read the timeline to see our progress.
Timeline
10 Year Progress Report Published
Kickin Back Fundraiser
Make Your Own Ball Day Makes Soccer Improvements
Mzuzu City Area Girls Soccer Showcase
MoonCatcher distributes sewing machines



Co-ed league begins for grades 1-4 in Bandawe Zone
Foundation is laid for Girls’ Changing Rooms
Fourth Container Is Delivered
Soccer Field Project Underway
Coaches Across Continents Complete Program
Meal Program Offered in After School Mentoring Program
Malawi Highlights
Banda Bola Sports Foundation registered with CONGOMA and is established as an NGO in Malawi.
Historic First: Three students from Malenga Mzoma Primary School were selected for National Secondary School.
Third Container Is Delivered
Scholastic Soccer League for Girls and Boys Expands to 30 Schools
The Scholastic Soccer League expanded beyond the Bandawe zone to include the Kachele and Tukombo school zones in Nkhata Bay South. Now 30 schools have boys and girls playing soccer and over 1,500 students are participating in the region. Ten schools qualify to play in League sanctioned games. There is one girls team and one boys team from each school. Our goal is for all Nkhata Bay South schools to meet the scholastic league criteria so they can participate in official league games.
In addition, the Foundation encouraged the creation of the first Mzuzu area women’s soccer league. We support the league by providing them with equipment and plan to include them in future coaching clinics. These young women will be able to mentor the local girls in the primary schools.
Coaches Across Continents Partners with Banda Bola Sports Foundation
Mzuzu University
Board Member Visit
Second Container Is Delivered
After School Program Establishes Guidelines and Recruits Secondary School Volunteers
It was important to encourage and improve the attendance and retention of students in the after school program. The Foundation worked with local leaders and the school committee members at Malenga Mzoma Primary School and came up with a registration procedure. By asking parents and guardians to be involved in the education of their children, even in this small way of registration, the parents learn to value educating their sons and daughters. The school officials agreed to keep attendance records which also added to the seriousness of the program. Coach Banda recruited local secondary school students to volunteer in the after school program.
In addition to the After School Program, a summer reading program was established for the children in Chituka Village. A U.S. college student volunteer ran the summer reading program.
Scholastic Soccer League for Girls and Boys Expands
The Primary School League expanded to include all 10 primary schools in the Bandawe zone. Each school fields and supports 2 boys teams and 1 girls team in the league. A committee of representatives from each school was formed to oversee the league, enforce rules, manage equipment and schedule matches. Over 650 boys and girls participate.
Volunteer coaches from Holland and the US brought extra equipment and ran clinics for the coaches and for the school children of the Bandawe school zone.