Community leaders from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are part of the volunteer programme at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™
The initiative recognises outstanding contributions to underserved communities while creating opportunities for learning and knowledge exchange
The FIFA Foundation Community Leaders were selected through a global process involving 69 applicants from 22 countries and 30 organisations across five confederations
Three inspirational community leaders who use football to create opportunities and address social challenges will join the FIFA Foundation at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026™ as part of its Community Leaders initiative.
Esther Aluoch Oloo of Kenya, Eva Gabriel Mmary of Tanzania and Sseruwada Deus Dedit of Uganda will support tournament operations in Bielsko-Biała and Łódź during September. Their assignments include fan engagement and a range of additional volunteer roles.
All three Community Leaders are key members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) supported by the FIFA Foundation and have harnessed that support to drive tangible change through the power of football in their communities.
Alongside their tournament responsibilities, the three Community Leaders will have opportunities to connect, exchange ideas and learn from one another, as well as from the wider volunteer community. They will then be able to take the knowledge and experiences gained in Poland back to their organisations and communities.
After being piloted at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, the Community Leaders Volunteer initiative was fully operational for the first time at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, when four representatives from NGOs supported by the FIFA Foundation joined the tournament’s Volunteer Programme in Mexico City, Mexico.
The initiative has two central objectives; to recognise people who have made an outstanding contribution to their communities through football and to equip them with new knowledge, skills and experiences that can support their work at home.
The seven Community Heroes participating across the two tournaments were selected through a competitive global process that attracted 69 applications from 22 countries and 30 organisations spanning five confederations.
Meet the Community Leaders
Esther Aluoch Oloo – Vijana Amani Pamoja, Kenya
Esther began her journey as a volunteer and football coach and is now a programme coordinator leading initiatives focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights, mental health and life skills.
She uses football as a platform for connection and empowerment, particularly among young mothers and other young people in her community.
Vijana Amani Pamoja supports underprivileged young people in Nairobi, Kenya through football-based programmes addressing health, life skills, mental well-being and economic empowerment. Trained youth coaches deliver sessions covering HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, positive decision-making and pathways into employment.
Eva Gabriel Mmary – Future Stars Academy, Tanzania
Eva is a coach, referee and life-skills teacher who uses football to promote gender equality and inclusion. She works closely with girls and other young people in her community and brings experience gained through the Homeless World Cup into her local programmes.
Future Stars Academy provides inclusive football opportunities for children and young people in Arusha, Tanzania. Through adapted training, junior-coach development and safe community spaces, the organisation helps participants build confidence, fitness, social skills and self-esteem while promoting the wider inclusion of people with disabilities.
Sseruwada Deus Dedit – Child Rights Development Foundation, Uganda
Sseruwada is a community volunteer, football team captain and youth advocate who uses the game to engage young people on issues including health and gender-based violence. His long-term ambition is to establish a football academy that will create further opportunities for young people and support youth development in his community.
The Child Rights Development Foundation uses football to provide adolescents with information about sexual and reproductive health, wellbeing and life skills. Through school-based sessions, tournaments and community discussions, its programmes build knowledge, confidence and participation among girls and boys.
About the FIFA Foundation Community Programme
In its 2025-2026 cycle, the FIFA Foundation through its Community Programme is supporting 139 organisations across 57 countries that use football to address social challenges and create opportunities for children and young people.
Since 2019, it has supported 328 organisations and reached more than 1.17 million beneficiaries across 91 countries through football-based projects focused on areas including education, health and wellbeing, gender equality, social inclusion and youth development.