My African World Foundation was established with a dream to equip Africans with a tenacious commitment to empower women, youth and children through sport and education.

We believe that sport is a platform to unite people of all walks of life and can contribute to the overall development of a person of any age. There are many benefits to be obtained through playing sport. We think some of the main values and characteristics that are acquired while being involved in sporting activities include, but are not limited to, respect for others, physical fitness development, teamwork, and the ability to be humble in victory or defeat. Moreover, we hope to instil the pledge of hard work and the hunger to succeed in our participants so that they will be able to carry these prime values with them through their lives.

Education is the master key to open the doors to success and a better life for all Africans, especially today and evermore in the future. Sport and education are a brilliant combination as a healthy body is a healthy mind, and vice versa; one compliments the other.

Women must be empowered because of the mass discrimination they have received historically and are receiving presently, which is clear from the gender-based violence we are experiencing in South Africa. Furthermore, mothers probably play the most important role in shaping the future generations from the crib to maturity; nurturing and teaching the values of life. They are a huge influence in a child’s upbringing.

Mothers are creating the country’s future and unfortunately women do not get enough support.

These are challenging times for women – with all the odds stacked heavily against them, not only due to gender-based violence, but women between the ages of 20 and 35 are recorded as the highest group unemployed in our country.

The pregnancy rate in our country amongst teenagers is extremely high. According to statistics from the health department in Gauteng, obtained from Soweto Live dated 16 January 2019, 351 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 delivered babies at hospitals across the province. Tshwane was the hardest hit with 216 babies delivered between April and November.

Statistics also show that 12,866 teenagers between 15 and 19 years of age gave birth during the same period. Most of these girls drop out of school and don’t return. With some of them even getting infected with HIV and Aids while they are pregnant. Currently, we also have the added problems of COVID-19, which has had a disastrous economic effect on the whole of South Africa, especially on black women between the ages of 19 and 35.

Many girls especially from underprivileged, uneducated backgrounds enjoy participating in sport; it is a release and gives them an opportunity to better themselves. Participating in sport could also lead to getting scouted and earning an income by playing for a professional team. Young girls joining a sport’s team find support from other players and make the team their second home. Their horizons are broadened because now they have a chance to educate themselves through sport, to travel and an opportunity to provide for their families.

These girls start to hope for a better future. By wanting more out of their lives they become more ambitious. Each girl’s outlook on life is no longer limited, and these factors are passed onto her child or family. Her views become her child’s views.

Sport can open many doors for these girls. They can be granted a scholarship to a College or University if they are talented. Once they start to socialise with different communities, people meet them in a different environment and can see that most of these township girls are decent and respectful. An opportunity can arise for employment. There have been a few instances where girls have been employed as filing clerks, cleaners or receptionists depending on their level of education. With this employment they have an income for their families and do not resort to crime or prostitution.

The foundation has been registered with Social Development since 2011 under registration number 095-196- NPO. Our Tax-exempt number is 930 069641. 

The foundation consists of three bearers, James Edward Maguire, Haralampos Milionas and Maria Athanassouli. Both Maguire and Milionas have passed a resolution permitting Ms Athanassouli to apply for funding in her capacity as chairperson.

Mr Maguire is a security consultant that has worked locally and abroad as a security consultant for high level individuals and corporations for the past 30 years.

Mr Milionas is a shipping agent, and part owner of Mul–T–Haul Pty Ltd. He has been in business for 25 years.

Ms Athanassouli worked in banking for 15 years before deciding to take an offer from an International company to work in various African countries as Director of Procurement.

Vision

Our vision is to extend our development programs into the townships and government schools. Presently we have development initiatives in Alex for young boys, Vosloorus for young girls, and Tembisa for young girls and boys.

Our focus is on empowering women through soccer, where they can use their experience and abilities to further their professions. It is essential for these ladies to have the surety that they can follow a career in sport and earn enough to assist their families financially.

Ideally, we would like to start an academy at Northview High School where our unemployed ladies could coach and pass on their experience to the younger generation of players.

Mission

Our mission is to partner with various overseas women’s teams, where we can send two to three players each year for the experience. By doing this our players will have a greater chance at getting spotted and will hopefully get signed up a professional team.

We are also hoping for more of our ladies to receive scholarships to Universities. The scope for players becomes immense and they are able to get more coverage. At University they have the chance to play for USSA, to travel to a foreign country if selected, and to participate in the Varsity Cup.

Our girls can study Sport Management, Sport Coaching, Sport Science and simultaneously do their coaching certificate license from SAFA. These students will then be able to be employed by schools, Colleges, Universities, or gyms and could even start their own academies.

Objective

Our objective is to increase the intake of women soccer players and to boost our development projects for children, both in sport and education. We would like to acquire our own grounds where women and children from different ethnic backgrounds and ages can participate and direct their energies into sport. Our hope is to change the mindset regarding women’s soccer in South Africa. Here, discrimination still prevails in the leagues, with preference currently directed towards men’s soccer economically, in the media, and through sponsorship.

With any funds donated to the foundation the donor will be issued with a Section 18A Tax receipt.

A Section 18A receipt:

A Section 18A receipt is a special approved receipt issued under section 18A by a section 18A-approved organisation, entitling the donor to an income tax deduction for donations made.