Sports and poverty reduction are closely connected through the work of organizations that use sports to help young people in low-income communities build better futures. Sports are not only about playing games or staying active. They can also support education, teach life skills and create job opportunities. Young people are hit hardest by poverty worldwide. The International Labour Organization reports that youth aged 15 to 24 are more than twice as likely as adults to be working poor. In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly half of employed young people live in working poverty. The five sports programs fighting poverty below help keep young people in school, build life skills and open doors to jobs. According to the United Nations, sports and poverty reduction can support development by improving education, health and the empowerment of young people.

Grassroot Soccer

Grassroot Soccer uses football to support sports and poverty reduction by teaching young people about health and life skills. According to the International Platform on Sport and Development, Tommy Clark founded the organization in 2002 after seeing how popular football was in Zimbabwe. He recognized it could be used to reach young people with important health information. Grassroot Soccer reports that its programs have reached more than 18 million young people in more than 60 countries, showing how sports programs fighting poverty can work at scale.

It also works with more than 13,000 trained coaches who deliver lessons through football activities. The organization partners with groups like United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to teach young people about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, sexual health and mental well-being. Recently, it has also added mental health support programs to help young people cope with stress and challenges in their lives.

Mathare Youth Sports Association

The Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) demonstrates how sports and poverty reduction can support community development. According to the International Platform on Sport and Development, young people in Nairobi, Kenya, founded MYSA in 1987 by organizing football games in their community. MYSA uses football to encourage young people to take part in activities that help their communities. These include cleaning up neighborhoods, attending school programs and learning leadership skills. The organization has grown beyond Kenya and now works in places like Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Botswana and refugee camps in Kakuma. MYSA reports that it has helped more than 200,000 young people through sports and poverty reduction programs that combine football with education and community service.

Magic Bus

Magic Bus is an organization in India that uses sports and poverty reduction programs to help young people from poor communities. According to the organization, Magic Bus started in 1999 in Mumbai. It uses sports activities to teach life skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. Magic Bus explains that its “Childhood to Livelihood” program helps young people stay in school and later find jobs. As reported by CSR Universe, the organization works across 24 states in India and reached about 1.8 million young people in 2023-24. More than 100,000 young people have found jobs through its programs, illustrating how sports programs fighting poverty can improve education and employment opportunities.

Fight for Peace

Fight for Peace uses boxing and martial arts as part of its sports and poverty reduction approach to support young people living in unsafe and low-income communities. According to Partners of the Americas, Luke Dowdney started Fight for Peace in 2000 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fight for Peace uses a “Five Pillars” model that combines sports with education, job training, mentoring and personal development support. This helps young people build discipline, confidence and skills for work. The organization works in several countries and supports thousands of young people every year. According to the organization, it recorded more than 20,000 visits to its training programs in 2025, highlighting the reach of its sports and poverty reduction work.

Skateistan

Skateistan uses skateboarding to support sports and poverty reduction for children in poor and underserved communities. According to the BBC, in 2007 its founder started Skateistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, teaching children how to skateboard as a way to connect them with learning opportunities. Skateistan says its programs combine skateboarding with classroom learning, art and life skills education. More than half of its participants are girls and it has reached more than 10,000 young people. Today, Skateistan runs permanent Skate Schools in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa. It also runs the Goodpush Alliance, which connects more than 1,000 skate programs around the world. This helps expand sports and poverty reduction efforts globally.

Sports and poverty reduction programs show that sports can do more than entertain. They can also help young people learn, grow and find opportunities for the future. While sports alone cannot end poverty, they can open doors to education and jobs. Organizations like Grassroot Soccer, MYSA, Magic Bus, Fight for Peace and Skateistan demonstrate what sports programs fighting poverty can look like in practice and how they improve lives in many parts of the world.

– Abisola Oladipupo

Abisola is based in Hatfield, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons