The Amandla Ku Lutsha Soccer League grew out of the dreams of two volunteers who wanted to provide South African children in residential care with the opportunity to participate in organized sport.
The AMANDLA Ku Lutsha Soccer League (ASL) was created in 2006 and was designed specifically for children in residential care. The first soccer season saw participation of ten Homes, which brought together 150 kids from many different cultures but all of whom have been removed from their homes or forced to leave. Today, the league works with 22 Children's Projects and provides opportunities in sport and positive role models to more than 300 children!
By the end of its pilot season, the positive impact of the league on its children was so clear that the creation of an umbrella organisation (Amandla) was an obvious next step.
Amandla provides many programs and services for the children of the league. CHOSA has made grants in both 2007 and 2008 which were applied most recently to the Youth Leadership Program.
AMANDLA runs Youth Leadership Programs through workshops and camps. The objective of these workshops is to develop life skills but also to give all participants exposure to new experiences. From these Youth Leadership Programs, AMANDLA will develop a cadre of peer leaders for the future in all the communities where it has projects.
AMANDLA’s aim is to directly involve and give a powerful voice to all who go through its Youth Leadership Programs in the management of their soccer league and how it is run.
The AMANDLA youth leadership forum involves a percentage of the youth participating in our projects with the aim of involvement in the management of their respective projects.
In addition to providing an enjoyable recreational activity, the soccer teams will serve as channels through which education about general health, conflict resolution, HIV/AIDS and self-esteem building can take place. As an innovative project that seeks to break down racial boundaries and stigma, the league is not only coeducational and interracial, but also welcomes the participation of non-orphaned but disadvantaged children from local communities.
Participating organizations in the Cape Metropole include:
 Baphumelele Children’s Home
 Boys and Girls Town Kenilworth
 Boys Town Macassar
 Durbanville Kinderhuis
 Leliebloem House
Heatherdale
Marsh Memorial House
Highway Home
G.C. Williams House
The Homestead
The B.E.S.T. Center
Beth Uriel
Bright Lights Shelter
Elkana Children's Project
Emasithandane Children's Project
Holy Cross Children's Home
The Homestead Shelter
Percy Bartley House
SA Children's Home
St Francis Children's Home
St Michael's Children's Home
The Bridge at Elukhuselweni
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