Mpira Fursa: Football Creates Opportunity
Using football to promote mental health, gender equality, and education across Tanzania.
Keeping Children in School
Only 69% of Tanzanian children complete primary education, and only 57 out of 100 reach Form 4. Approximately 5,500 girls annually cannot continue due to pregnancy. Mental health challenges are widespread but under-addressed in schools.
Mpira Fursa uses the universal language of football to address these challenges, connecting sport with mental health support, gender equality education, and school attendance monitoring across 24 regions.
Four Pillars of Impact
Mpira Fursa operates across multiple levels, from FDC campuses to primary schools to secondary school mental health programs, with a new expansion into Zanzibar.
Football at FDCs
For EHM participants and FDC youth, including football production training and coaching certificates. From 2026: expanding to include young men.
Football in Primary Schools
113 schools, 387 girls' teams, grassroots coaching, community dialogue, attendance monitoring linked to participation.
Football for Mental Health
Secondary schools, football-based mental health curriculum, PE teachers as mental health facilitators, safe spaces, linking schools to local mental health services.
Football in Zanzibar
New expansion, MoU with MoEVT through 2027, ALAE centers, partnership with Zanzibar Football Federation.
Reach and Impact
Female Players at FDCs
900 female players are actively engaged at FDCs, with some transitioning to professional football.
Football for Mental Health
The program is expanding to include “Football for Mental Health” in secondary schools, with PE teachers trained as mental health facilitators.
Moments from the Field
From training grounds to tournament days: football creating opportunity across 113 primary schools and 54 FDCs.
Football Production: A Unique Innovation
Young women learn to manufacture high-quality footballs meeting international standards, in partnership with DIT Mwanza. A circular model: produce balls, supply the program, generate income, fund more training.
A Circular Model
Young women learn to manufacture footballs meeting international standards in partnership with DIT Mwanza. The balls supply the program, generate income, and fund further training, creating a self-sustaining cycle of skills, sport, and economic empowerment.
16 tailoring instructors from FDCs were trained at DIT Mwanza to produce footballs meeting international standards. 339 UEFA footballs have been distributed to 113 girls' teams. The initiative earned praise from Minister of State Hon. Ridhiwani Kikwete.
Our Partners
Mpira Fursa is made possible through partnerships with leading organizations in sport, development, and education.
Join the Movement
Football is more than a game. It is a platform for mental health, gender equality, and keeping children in school. Partner with Mpira Fursa to expand this impact.