Nakivale Young Stars FC
A boys' football club in Nakivale Refugee Settlement. The words on this page are the club's own, shared with YRUD — YRUD holds no money for the club and takes nothing: if you can help, we put you in touch with the team directly.
Who we are
We are 57 refugee boys in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda — 32 boys Under 15 and 25 boys Under 18, from Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan. Football brought us together when we had lost hope.
Our mission
Our mission is to use football to heal trauma, unite different nationalities in Nakivale, and keep refugee boys away from drugs, crime and hopelessness.
Our vision
Our vision is to build the first refugee boys football academy in Nakivale that will give education, discipline, and a chance for a better future — and one day see a refugee boy from our camp become a professional player.
Photos of the club
Small previews to save data. Tap a photo to see it full size.
The benefits we bring
Peace and Unity
No Congolese, no Burundian on the pitch — we are one family.
Mental Healing
Football helps boys forget war and trauma.
Discipline and Education
We teach discipline, teamwork, and we encourage all our U15 boys to stay in school.
Protection
Training keeps 57 boys busy and safe every day.
Our challenges — what we are missing
We are 57 boys but we lack almost everything. These are our urgent team requirements:
- Jerseys: 2 full sets of jerseys (57 pieces) for U15 and U18 boys
- Football Boots: 57 pairs — most of our boys train barefoot and get injured on stones
- Footballs: We have only ONE old torn ball — we need at least 10 good balls
- Training Bibs: 30 bibs for training
- Cones and Markers: For proper training drills
- Goal Nets: 2 nets — we currently play without nets
- First Aid Kit: For injuries — we have nothing when a boy gets hurt
- Whistles and Stopwatch: For our coaches
- Water Bottles / Jerrycan: For drinking water during training
- Transport: To go for friendly matches outside the settlement
Our humble request
We are not asking for luxury. We are asking for the tools to keep 57 dreams alive.
Even if you can support us with 5 jerseys, 5 boots, or 2 balls, you have already changed a life in Nakivale.
You will not just support football. You will invest in peace, healing, and the future of 57 refugee boys.
To send kit, or to ask the coaches a question, write to yrud.ug@gmail.com and we will put you in touch with the club.
Nakivale Young Stars FC is its own club. YRUD shares their page because they asked us to; gifts of kit go to the boys, not to YRUD. What YRUD itself does is on the home page.