BUVUMA Island will next year raise a first girls football team with the support of EDGE, a charity organisation based in the US in conjunction with the All Stars Academy.
The Empowerment, Development and Gender Equality charity of Wisconsin University works on community projects on the island.
According to Michelle Mazzeo, the project manager, who was on a visit at the Kamwokya Christian Community Centre to acquaint herself with the work of a similar project, said they are working with 26 girls to form Lingira FC, which they intend to register in the national women’s league within a year.
‘‘We not only teach them about football but also about other important things concerning their lives which help them to keep focused,’’ Mazzeo said.
She added that the organisation also supports the teaching of HIV/AIDS awareness programmes on the island.
In January 2010, women footballers from the US will visit Buvuma to run football camps with the girls and coaches. They will also partner with Tackle Africa in conjunction with the Kamwokya based All Stars Academy to ensure their dream of a girls team materialises.
