Sonke Gender Justice extends its heartfelt appreciation to the RES Foundation for its ongoing partnership in supporting youth empowerment, violence prevention, and gender justice in Diepsloot, Johannesburg. Through the Going for Goal project, Sonke uses the unifying power of sport to address crime, drug use, and gender-based violence among young people, while strengthening positive parenting, child rights, and community resilience.
In a context where South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of youth violence and GBV, Going for Goal offers young people an alternative vision of leadership and belonging. With the RES Foundation’s support, Sonke annually trained 20 Youth Ambassadors, all young leaders between the ages of 13 to 18, who use football and indigenous games to mobilise their peers around issues of safety, equality, and wellbeing. These ambassadors have reached more than 260 young people through 44 community-based street soccer events, providing a safe space to discuss substance abuse, gender norms, and the everyday realities of growing up in Diepsloot.
The programme’s impact extends beyond the field. Through MenCare annual training and intergenerational dialogues, over 30 parents, caregivers, and community members have been equipped with tools for positive parenting, non-violent discipline, and improved communication at home. These sessions, supported by local partners such as the South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network and the Diepsloot GBV Forum, have strengthened family bonds and increased collective action against violence.
Going for Goal also builds solidarity through collaboration. Monthly stakeholder meetings and joint campaigns, such as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence event in Zone 13, which brought together over 600 residents, ensure that advocacy is deeply rooted in community participation. Together, Sonke and its partners are working to transform Diepsloot into a space where youth voices are heard, and violence is challenged at every level.
The stories emerging from the project highlight its transformative potential. One youth ambassador shared how the programme helped them overcome deep-seated prejudice and learn to respect others, saying, “I learned to live with others, regardless of their differences, culture, religion, or sexual preferences.” Another participant, who joined the project while struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, reflected, “If I hadn’t joined Sonke, I might not be here today. The sessions helped me regain my confidence and see that life is worth living.” A third ambassador, once isolated and shy, now mentors other young people away from drug abuse and into healthier, more hopeful lives.
These stories speak to the heart of Sonke’s mission to transform gender norms, nurture leadership, and build safer, more just communities. Through the Going for Goal project, Sonke and the RES Foundation are proving that change begins where youth are trusted to lead. One match, one dialogue, and one act of courage at a time, Diepsloot’s young people are reclaiming their power to shape a future free from violence.
