Kick4Life helps young women in Lesotho realise potential beyond the football pitch
By Alexandra Flores I Laureus Sport for Good
Puseletso Jobo is one of many young women in Lesotho redefining their futures on the football pitch, where Kick4Life has been transforming lives for 20 years.
The dual football club and charity organisation uses football to support vulnerable children and young people through health, education, life-skills and gender programmes. It has impacted more than 250,000 children and young people and received the 2025 Laureus Sport for Good Award.
For Jobo, Kick4Life gave her the opportunity to play and discover her potential beyond the game.
"Football is my escape room," said the former Kick4Life participant-turned coach, football player and youth mentor. "It gave me a voice and the confidence when I didn’t have any."
For Jobo, Kick4Life gave her the opportunity to play and discover her potential beyond the game.
"Football is my escape room," said the former Kick4Life participant-turned coach, football player and youth mentor. "It gave me a voice and the confidence when I didn’t have any."
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Changing the Narrative
Growing up in Lesotho, Jobo faced societal expectations, stigma and family pressure, which made her shy and unsure as she pursued her passion for football.
"Many people used to say, ‘You are a tomboy’," she recalled. "At first, I thought something was wrong with me. But that didn’t stop me."
Kick4Life helps individuals realise their potential by dismantling obstacles, fostering personal growth and empowering participants to succeed according to their own values, independent of societal pressures.
Motlatsi Nkhahle, country director at Kick4Life said: "Recognising the diverse backgrounds of our participants, we empower them with essential skills like resilience and dedication to navigate their own circumstances."
Within three months of joining Kick4Life, Jobo faced opposition from her family, who felt football would not contribute to her future, especially financially.
"When she came to us with this issue, we wanted to change that narrative for her family and show them that football is life changing," Nkhahle said.
Jobo joined the Kick4Life Academy, an intensive and holistic approach to help participants achieve both academic and sporting excellence. They receive education support, character-building and life-skills training and football coaching that helped her to grow through the programme, so much that Kick4Life believed she can be a role model for others as a staff member.
"I can tell her life has changed. She is now at the front of house, representing the work of Kick4Life in the community," said Nkhahle.
Growing up in Lesotho, Jobo faced societal expectations, stigma and family pressure, which made her shy and unsure as she pursued her passion for football.
"Many people used to say, ‘You are a tomboy’," she recalled. "At first, I thought something was wrong with me. But that didn’t stop me."
Kick4Life helps individuals realise their potential by dismantling obstacles, fostering personal growth and empowering participants to succeed according to their own values, independent of societal pressures.
Motlatsi Nkhahle, country director at Kick4Life said: "Recognising the diverse backgrounds of our participants, we empower them with essential skills like resilience and dedication to navigate their own circumstances."
Within three months of joining Kick4Life, Jobo faced opposition from her family, who felt football would not contribute to her future, especially financially.
"When she came to us with this issue, we wanted to change that narrative for her family and show them that football is life changing," Nkhahle said.
Jobo joined the Kick4Life Academy, an intensive and holistic approach to help participants achieve both academic and sporting excellence. They receive education support, character-building and life-skills training and football coaching that helped her to grow through the programme, so much that Kick4Life believed she can be a role model for others as a staff member.
"I can tell her life has changed. She is now at the front of house, representing the work of Kick4Life in the community," said Nkhahle.
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Inspiring Young Leaders
Jobo not only plays on Kick4Life’s women’s football club, but also supports other young women facing similar challenges, including gender-based violence, drug abuse, tackling HIV, upholding rights and addressing nutrition issues.
"Becoming a life skills coach at Kick4Life has helped me a lot because it aligns with my purpose - helping people with social issues they’re experiencing," Jobo said.
By taking part in football trainings combined with life skill education, gender-based violence workshops and mentorship for youth, Jobo connects deeply with the participants.
One participant, who once struggled with self-esteem, now leads her team in tutoring classes. She credited Jobo’s support and Kick4Life’s empowering environment.
"She told me we are doing a great job in character development," Jobo said. "I saw her playing football, and I told her she has potential, not only academically."
Many girls Jobo has mentored have transformed from being shy to confident both on and off the field.
"We ensure to create safe spaces for young people to participate, discuss and grow from there," said Nkhahle.
Jobo not only plays on Kick4Life’s women’s football club, but also supports other young women facing similar challenges, including gender-based violence, drug abuse, tackling HIV, upholding rights and addressing nutrition issues.
"Becoming a life skills coach at Kick4Life has helped me a lot because it aligns with my purpose - helping people with social issues they’re experiencing," Jobo said.
By taking part in football trainings combined with life skill education, gender-based violence workshops and mentorship for youth, Jobo connects deeply with the participants.
One participant, who once struggled with self-esteem, now leads her team in tutoring classes. She credited Jobo’s support and Kick4Life’s empowering environment.
"She told me we are doing a great job in character development," Jobo said. "I saw her playing football, and I told her she has potential, not only academically."
Many girls Jobo has mentored have transformed from being shy to confident both on and off the field.
"We ensure to create safe spaces for young people to participate, discuss and grow from there," said Nkhahle.
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Equipping for a Brighter Future
Jobo’s journey from a player on the women’s team to a community programme leader is an example of Kick4Life’s wider endeavour as part of Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (SESLA).
SESLA is a funding and capacity building programme launched by Laureus Sport for Good, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in response to the fact that one in four young people in Africa are not in formal education, employment or training.
As a SESLA grantee recipient, Kick4Life trains young people to be more employable by providing critical skills such as resilience, communication, leadership, interviewing skills and patience.
"The hook is football; after that, we give them training opportunities in a holistic approach where they can perform all what they have learned. Eventually they can get employed," said Nkhahle.
Jobo has gone on to play internationally as part of Kick4Life, something she never imagined herself doing. And while Kick4Life helped her realise her potential not only as an athlete, but it also especially helped her realise how she can use her talents to change the landscape for other young women in her country.
"I can’t stop thinking what could have happened to that little girl if I had let society’s norms to hold me back," she recalled.
She’s pursuing a master’s degree in Sport Management and Policy, with hope to reform the sport system in Lesotho.
"I want to make sure that sport in Lesotho empowers everyone, not just the boys," Jobo said. "I always tell my teammates that football did transform my whole life. I am employed because of football," she noted.
To learn more about Kick4Life, visit: https://www.kick4life.org/
Jobo’s journey from a player on the women’s team to a community programme leader is an example of Kick4Life’s wider endeavour as part of Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (SESLA).
SESLA is a funding and capacity building programme launched by Laureus Sport for Good, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in response to the fact that one in four young people in Africa are not in formal education, employment or training.
As a SESLA grantee recipient, Kick4Life trains young people to be more employable by providing critical skills such as resilience, communication, leadership, interviewing skills and patience.
"The hook is football; after that, we give them training opportunities in a holistic approach where they can perform all what they have learned. Eventually they can get employed," said Nkhahle.
Jobo has gone on to play internationally as part of Kick4Life, something she never imagined herself doing. And while Kick4Life helped her realise her potential not only as an athlete, but it also especially helped her realise how she can use her talents to change the landscape for other young women in her country.
"I can’t stop thinking what could have happened to that little girl if I had let society’s norms to hold me back," she recalled.
She’s pursuing a master’s degree in Sport Management and Policy, with hope to reform the sport system in Lesotho.
"I want to make sure that sport in Lesotho empowers everyone, not just the boys," Jobo said. "I always tell my teammates that football did transform my whole life. I am employed because of football," she noted.
To learn more about Kick4Life, visit: https://www.kick4life.org/
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In response to the fact that one in four young people in Africa are not in formal education, employment or training, Laureus Sport for Good, the International Olympic Committee and Agence Française de Développement alongside key African sport and social development institutions, have joined together to form the Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa program (SESLA). Launched in January 2024, SESLA is providing grant funding, training, peer learning opportunities and research, with the aim of leveraging the power of sport to empower young people to create more sustainable futures for themselves and their communities.
