For most South African communities, sport is much more than a game. Often, it’s the reason a young person develops passion and direction in life, a space where young people learn discipline, trust and teamwork, and, for many, the first place they feel seen, safe and capable.

This is the power, and motivation, behind the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa (Laureus), which supports community-based organisations that use sport to help young people navigate some of the country’s toughest social challenges. From surfing programmes in coastal communities to boxing, self-defence, education and life-skills initiatives in townships, the programmes supported by Laureus use sport as a way to create structure, build confidence and make connections - often in lives where these things are needed most.

Across more than 100 communities, Laureus-supported programmes address issues that extend far beyond the playing field, including violence, substance abuse, discrimination, inequality and social exclusion. The work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief that sport can reach young people in ways that traditional interventions sometimes cannot.

The FirstRand Foundation shares this belief and, as a long-standing partner of Laureus South Africa, aligns its support with its ‘Building Thriving and Resilient Communities’ focus area, specifically through the sports development pillar. The partnership also reflects the FirstRand Foundation’s broader commitment to unlocking opportunity, strengthening community-based organisations and supporting interventions that create lasting social impact.

The Foundation has now also been appointed as a Country Patron of Laureus South Africa, joining Mercedes-Benz SA in supporting the organisation’s long-term mission. Importantly, the Country Patron role is not only about providing funding. It also involves helping to increase visibility for the work happening on the ground and connecting more partners, platforms and people to Laureus programmes that are already changing lives.

A key part of the FirstRand Foundation’s support has been the Laureus Incubation Hub, a six-month capacity-building programme for emerging sport-for-development organisations. The programme helps these organisations strengthen the systems they need to grow and sustain their work, including governance, financial management, safeguarding, monitoring and evaluation, and community development. It combines workshops, mentorship, online learning and access to a wider network of peer organisations.

This kind of support is vital for grassroots social upliftment organisations because it helps them fully leverage the deep trust they enjoy from communities and access the resources, systems and networks needed to scale their impact.

Since its inception, Laureus South Africa has raised more than R100 million to support organisations using sport as a tool for social change. Its work is inspired by Nelson Mandela’s belief that sport has the power to inspire, unite and create hope where there was once despair.

About Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA

Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa uses sport as a tool for social change, supporting grassroots organisations that help young people overcome challenges linked to poverty, violence, discrimination, substance abuse and social exclusion.

Inspired by Nelson Mandela’s belief that sport has the power to inspire, unite and create hope, Laureus works through community-based sport-for-development programmes that create safe spaces, build life skills and strengthen social cohesion.

Its work forms part of the global Laureus Sport for Good movement, which supports programmes around the world that use sport to help young people and communities build better futures.