Right to Dream is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the inaugural round of its Purpose Entrepreneurship program and the exciting launch of its second round.
The groundbreaking initiative, born out of a shared vision with Common Goal and the Mansour Group, seeks to disrupt the status quo and redefine the role of the football industry in society, proving it can be a catalyst for positive change.
More Than a Game: A Catalyst for Social Impact
At Right to Dream, our mission extends far beyond the football pitch. We are committed to fostering a culture of giving back, empowering individuals, and creating a lasting impact on society. We believe that nurturing talent extends to everyone within our ecosystem, enabling them to develop and thrive.
The Purpose Entrepreneurship program embodies this ethos, offering a platform for individuals to turn their innovative ideas into reality and transform their communities through purpose-driven projects.
A Successful Pilot Phase
The pilot phase, launched in May 2022, saw five inspiring projects come to life, each addressing pressing social challenges across the globe.
As Khalida Popal, Purpose Entrepreneurship Program Manager at Right to Dream, reflects: “The pilot phase of the Purpose Entrepreneurship program has truly exemplified the transformative power of purpose-driven initiatives. We've witnessed remarkable projects come to life, addressing critical social challenges and creating lasting impacts in communities around the world.”
From empowering young farmers in Ghana to fostering inclusivity in the UK and rehabilitating marginalized youth in Egypt, these projects showcased the transformative power of purpose-driven initiatives and the power of football as a tool for social impact.
Each project received a £20,000 grant and access to a network of mentors and experts to bring their innovative ideas to life.
Paraplay (UK): Awarded a spot in the nine-month “Innovate for Inclusivity” program in collaboration with Football for All, ParaPlay is creating an FA-recognized coaching program. Mentored by 3-time Paralympian, World & European champion, and World Record holder Danny Crates, this initiative seeks to break down barriers for differently abled individuals.
Lyco-Farm (Ghana): Forged a partnership with a local school, securing land to construct a greenhouse and kickstart a sustainable farming education program. By providing training in sustainable agricultural practices, this initiative is empowering young farmers in rural Ghana with essential agricultural skills, promoting food security and economic independence.
Playr Project (Australia & UK): Established a partnership with the Professional Footballers Association. In addition, they launched their program and announced the timeline for their first football clinics, providing a platform for girls and women to express themselves and break barriers through football.
NAFAS (Egypt): Expanded its reach, bringing its impactful "Street Football League" to new regions in Egypt, rehabilitating even more marginalized youth through sport and reintegrating them into society. The program's success is evident, with several participants progressing to play for TUT FC U17, and one young man securing a spot with Zamalek FC.
Street Dreams (Denmark): Delivered over 10 programs and activities, supporting and empowering young people through street sports, music, and urban culture.
The projects have not only impacted their communities but also nurtured the leadership skills, entrepreneurial skills, and confidence of the individuals behind them.
Patrick and Reda, Co-founders of Street Dreams, shared how the program empowered them to turn their vision into reality, allowing them to impact even more lives through their work. “The program offers not just guidance, but also a network of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to making a positive change.”
Isobel Dalton from the Playr Project echoed this sentiment, stating, "The Purpose Entrepreneurship program has enabled me to find a new sense of purpose in my life... The education and support received has expanded my knowledge and helped me navigate different challenges."
The program has also been instrumental in building more sustainable ventures, while demonstrating the potential within the Right to Dream community to drive meaningful social change.
Karim Hosny, founder of the NAFAS project and Head of Purpose and Partnerships at Right to Dream Egypt, emphasized the positive impact of the various courses and leadership trainings on the project: "We now have a proper structure in place and potential revenue streams in the pipeline, that point us in the right direction of becoming a self-sustainable social enterprise."
Newel Tse, founder of Lycofarm and a Right to Dream Ghana Academy teacher, can already see the impact extending to his community: "At Lycofarm, we cultivate tomatoes the smart way, not the hard way - thanks to the Purpose Program. The guidance and mentorship I received have empowered me to make a meaningful impact in my community."
A Refreshed Approach: The Second Round
Building on the successes and lessons learned from the pilot phase, the second round of the Purpose Entrepreneurship program is set to make an even greater impact through a refreshed, more community-centric approach.
“As we prepare for the second round, our focus is on fostering even deeper community engagement and leveraging the collective strength of the Right to Dream ecosystem to drive meaningful change. We're excited to see how the new, community-centric approach will empower the social entrepreneurs within our ecosystem to develop innovative solutions that make a real difference,” Khalida reflected on the exciting future ahead.
In this second phase, Right to Dream clubs and academies will be asked to prioritize a key problem they'd like to address within their community. Then, we'll invite our passionate and talented staff to propose solutions, whether through starting a social enterprise or supporting an existing community project.
This ensures the projects are rooted in the specific needs of each community and leverages the collective intellect within the Right to Dream ecosystem to create impactful solutions. While maintaining the core vision of the program, this shift encourages even greater engagement and ownership from within our community.
In addition, the program has been streamlined, with a user-friendly online voting system and early trustee engagement to ensure a transparent and efficient selection process. The program's duration has also been optimized to one year, with dedicated phases for strategy development and implementation.
We're excited to see the innovative and impactful solutions that emerge from this collaborative process.
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