From April 1st to April 4th, 2025, MasiSports+ had the privilege of attending the Skoll World Forum in Oxford, England, thanks to the generous support of our funder, the Judith Neilson Foundation.
“A powerful moment for me”, says Althea Farmer, our COO, “was when I realised the significance of our work as part of the global conversation. Representing a very small community in Masiphumelele, Cape Town, on a global scale was quite something,” she reflects. “One rarely thinks of the relevance of your work on a national scale, never mind a global scale. But I can confirm, we have a space!”
The Skoll Forum provided an incredible opportunity for social entrepreneurs from around the world to come together and exchange ideas, strategies, and experiences. Creating a sense of community.
During the forum, a few recurring themes emerged that resonated deeply with us at MasiSports+:
- Building Resilient Communities: In Masiphumelele, where challenges like poverty, limited access to resources, and social inequality exist, our mission focuses on fostering holistic youth development through sports, culture, life skills, and leadership.
- Global Collaboration & Leveraging Networks : Resilience thrives in collaboration through knowledge and resource sharing. As a small organisation with a big heart, we value national partnerships and are excited about extending our efforts globally. The forum emphasised the importance of connecting with like-minded organisations across borders.
- Relevance to Our Work at MasiSports+ In Masiphumelele, resilience is vital : Our programs help young people develop resilience to overcome obstacles.
- Sense of Community and Action : The Skoll World Forum was not only a chance to share knowledge but also a call to action, fostering a renewed sense of community and reminding us that we’re not alone in our mission.
As we return to Masiphumelele, we bring back renewed purpose. Our work at MasiSports+ is part of a global movement for positive social change.
We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an inspiring event. Thank you again to the Judith Neilson Foundation for making this possible and to the entire Skoll community for your insights, support, and encouragement.
Help us spread the word about the power of sports, education, and leadership in transforming lives. https://masisports.co.za/
Read more about the Skoll World Forum 2025 here: https://skoll.org/skoll-world-forum/