DIAMBARS SOUTH AFRICA Author: D. Habchi OVERVIEW Update: 01/02/10 I. ABOUT DIAMBARS Diambars is a non-governmental organization, created in 2000 by renowned football players, viz., 1998 world champions Patrick Vieira and Bernard Lama, and Jimmy Adjovi-Boco (former captain of the Benin National Team), with the support of several other champions and soccer legends. Diambars uses football as a driving force for education and offers disadvantaged children in Africa, with a talent for playing football, the opportunity to acquire solid academic training. Diambars has created a sport-education model that provides: ― Top level sport-education institutes, which offer accommodation, education and physical training to children between the ages of 13 and 18; the students are expected to achieve high standards in football and education, ― Community-based social development programs, using the power of football as an effective tool to promote education at large. Through education and top level sports, the Diambars Institute aims to favor the integration and fair social development of young people who have chosen high-level sports as a means of self- achievement, without suffering by being uprooted from their home environment. Diambars also acts at the level of sustainable development in response to the lack of educational structures and the poor level of sport in Africa. The model was properly endorsed by UNESCO which recognized Diambars’ capacity to provide quality education and promote the social role of sport. Diambars is a Senegalese word for fighters, which is very fitting for a football academy concept also designed to address the plight of African football players who generally choose the world of football at the expense of education. This is the philosophy that motivated the founders, inspiring them “to give back to football what it has given to us”. After a successful rollout of the first Diambars Football Academy in Senegal established for over 6 years, Diambars is now unfolding the South Africa chapter of the initiative, in view of the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup. The achievements to date have been very encouraging: Diambars Senegal has completed a cycle of 6 years of operations (2003-2009). The pilot project has been conducted successfully and the economic model is validated from an operational point of view, The model has been endorsed by UNESCO which has recognized Diambars’ capacity to provide quality education and promote the social role of sport, Diambars has created an Equitable Sports Agency to promote solidarity within the sport and the practice of sport in accordance with the rules of good sportsmanship, Diambars has been selected by the French government as a project capable of playing a key role and contributing to the global campaign for education movement. www.diambars.org 1 II. DIAMBARS SOUTH AFRICA PROJECT 1. Introduction After a successful rollout of the first Diambars Football Academy in Senegal, Diambars decided that South Africa would be an ideal site for the second project. Diambars South Africa’s primary goal for 2010 is to set up an Academy in South Africa comparable to the project has been operating for 5 years in Senegal, West Africa. Diambars South Africa was formed in June 2007 in South Africa and was incorporated under section 21 of the South African Companies Act of 1973. Diambars South Africa has been set up in response to the environment in South Africa which is briefly described below: Deficiencies in the educational system affecting historically disadvantaged children, requiring an innovative educational approach to help affected children gain access to better standards of education; There is a lack of resources (both physical and human) to help talented children realise their potential. It is therefore necessary to raise and improve standards across the whole sector; The 2010 World Cup is being held in South Africa and one of the objectives is to have a positive impact on the second economy1. In this context Diambars wishes to use its experience in education and football training to ensure that the events of 2010 leave behind a lasting legacy for the benefit of all. 2. Project profile Diambars South Africa aims to provide opportunities for sporting achievement and personal development for as many children as possible as they are empowered to become competent, confident and responsible citizens of South African society. Diambars will develop young champions Diambars Institute is designed to provide –at no cost- an opportunity for disadvantaged talented and gifted football performers to focus on their chosen sport, in a supportive and specialist environment, whilst gaining academic and vocational qualifications. 5 classes of 20 trainees (100 trainees in total as per initial concept) will attend the Institute over a 5 year program. At our sport and educational boarding school, students will study a unique curriculum that will equip them with the tools to function effectively as African champions. Diambars wants to be able to accommodate and form the trainees, whatever their academic level at the beginning of the study program. The educational programs will be devised to fit everyone’s level and needs. Our academic goal is to guarantee the best social integration at the end of the training (that some may extend to a university or professional degree), but it also implies transmitting the joy of learning, for oneself and others. 30% of school time will be devoted to sports training, 70% to academic training. Students will be offered a 5 year program (starting Grade 8 with the objective of reaching grade 12) in line with South Africa's National Qualifications Framework (NQF)2. 1 The country has a dual economy which bears witness to the system of racial segregation which existed up until 1994: a « primary economy » exists which is comparable to that of developed countries and accounts for about 30% of the population, and a « secondary economy » made up of the rest of the population, which is partially informal and exists on the fringes of the primary economy. www.diambars.org 2 Diambars will be a values-based institution. Leadership will be formally taught in the school’s curriculum with the aim of instilling a robust system of values in our students. We aim to inspire all students to become ethical and responsible champions in their communities across Africa. A variety of programs will help students recognize their potential to make an impact, including exposure to role models who help students envision the fulfilling life they can live in Africa. 3. Legal structure Diambars Academy is a non profit organization in South Africa We have established a “Section 21” company in South Africa with a board of directors that governs its operation. A Section 21 company is a non-profit company and is allowed to apply for tax-exempt status, which will allow corporations and individuals from South Africa to donate to the school and receive tax exemptions. We are currently in the process of applying for registration of the tax-exempt status. Main Object: Facilitating the promotion of sport from grassroots up to international level as a powerful means of achieving social skills, fostering universal values, intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding and respect, to work towards the goal of education for all and all activities thereto. 4. Progress report Timetable for implementing the project in South Africa: 2008 2009 2010 2014 Implementation of the Management of the Demonstrate success Preparatory work Project sustainable project project to the world • Use project as a model • Students intake: • 6 classes • Design and for development of sport • Commission construction - 1 first class • 120 children formulate project and education excellence - 20 students • 50 employees and effectiveness • Developing our Curriculum • Use 2010 as a • Institutionalize • Implement training, • Business model up • Recruiting students showcase of African organization coaching, mentoring… and running • Hiring Key Employees success • Fundraise/develop • Continue Generating • Customer loyalty • Establish strategic local contacts and Awareness among Potential • Project is locally managed established with partnerships network Donors and Stakeholders sponsors • Mobilize and integrate • 2014, first students • Develop media • Link project to existing • Link youth events to relevant and different sectors graduate & pursue strategy/partners national programs FIFA World Cup (pro players/ Media/Etc.) career opportunities Mobilization of local partners: To establish the Institute in South Africa Diambars approached Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) which responded positively. GPG then approached the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) to partner in the project through the donation of land on which to establish the Diambars Football Academy. This land 2 NQF recognises 3 broad bands of education: General Education and Training, Further Education and Training, and Higher Education and Training. School life spans 13 years or grades, from grade 0 (reception year) to grade 12 or "matric", the year of matriculation. General Education and Training runs from grade 0 to grade 9. Under the South African Schools Act of 1996, education is compulsory for all South Africans from age 7 (grade 1) to age 15, or the completion of grade 9. General Education and Training also includes Adult Basic Education and Training. www.diambars.org 3 was duly identified to the satisfaction of Diambars. The 3 parties, GPG, CoE and Diambars, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish formally the partnership for this project. Location of the site: The Diambars Institute is located in Boksburg, 30 minutes from the Johannesburg International Airport and some 30 minutes from the city centre. The land selected comprises approximately 10 ha and includes 4 existing playing fields. The Council of Ekurhuleni Municipality signed the resolution committing to a 99 year free lease for the use of the municipal land (Boksburg stadium) as previously identified. However the process of acquiring authorization to ultimately set up the infrastructure is proving to be timeous (12 to 18 months).