In 2023, Coaches Across Continents embarked on a groundbreaking journey towards empowerment and positive transformation by establishing Satellite Offices led by exceptional CAC Leaders across the globe. These visionary individuals, each with their unique stories and unyielding commitment to change, are taking the reins in their respective regions, amplifying the impact of Coaches Across Continents in the Southern Hemisphere.
From Uganda to Zanzibar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya, meet the CAC Satellite Managers who are pioneering a decentralised approach, creating powerful voices for change, and leaving an indelible mark on their communities. Their stories serve as a testament to the potential of sports as a catalyst for meaningful, lasting change, and inspire us all to believe in the power of collective action. Together, they exemplify the global impact that can be achieved when passion, dedication, and purpose align.
1. Salim Twaha Blanden: From Community Impact Coach to CAC Satellite Manager, Champion of Positive Change in Uganda!
As the CAC Satellite Manager in Uganda, Salim Twaha Blanden is a force to be reckoned with. His journey with Coaches Across Continents is a testament to his unwavering commitment to making a difference through sports. Salim was drawn to CAC’s long-term goals and missions, aligning perfectly with his own aspirations. He wanted to touch the lives of many in Uganda and Africa, using sports as a vehicle for positive change. CAC empowered him to become a global leader in Sports for social impact, granting him the autonomy to lead while providing unwavering support for success.
“I was the inaugural Community Impact Coach of Uganda by CAC in 2013, The idea of spreading the message of positive change through sports clicked with me. I then became the very first CAC accredited coach, equipped with Education Outside the Classroom training to impact UNSDGs and Safeguarding Child Rights through Purposeful Play curriculum and methodology. This has opened doors to more funding opportunities for Coaches Across Continents.” – Salim has has collaborated with over 30 organisations in Uganda and across Africa, leaving an indelible mark in the communities he touches.
In 2023, Salim achieved yet another milestone: He assumed the role of CAC Satellite Manager for Uganda, taking charge of the CAC office in his country and reaching out to all partner organizations across Uganda. Salim’s story is a testament to the power of dedication, and his impact continues to ripple through Uganda, leaving a legacy of positive change. Let’s stand with Salim as he blazes a trail of transformation through sports!
2. Fatma Said: Breaking Barriers, Championing Girls’ Rights in Sports
This is a story of resilience, passion, and unyielding belief in the power of sports to change lives. In the heart of Zanzibar, where traditional norms hinder the dreams of women and girls in sports, Fatma emerged as a shining light. At 18, she fell in love with basketball, igniting a lifelong mission to champion girls’ right to play and excel in sports. With unwavering determination Fatma embarked on a mission to shatter gender barriers in sports and has championed the cause of girls’ inclusion, spreading the message far and wide.
As a UNFPA youth adviser and a driving force in the Zanzibar Youth Forum, Fatma educates young girls about the boundless benefits of physical activity. Her vision extends beyond the court – she’s advancing our SRHR program, leaving an indelible mark on her community. Selected for the Michael Johnson Young Leaders, Fatma became a community impact coach, using purposeful play to advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Today, as the Founder and Executive Director of the Sustainable Development for Humanity Organization, Fatma is breaking socio-cultural barriers, creating safe spaces for young girls to thrive. Her dream? A sports and leadership center that will empower even more girls to forge their own paths with confidence and choice.
Through her Global Sports Mentoring Program experience, Fatma has honed her expertise in the transformative power of sports, forging innovative programs and mastering organizational leadership. Fatma’s journey is a testament to the power of collective action and the ripple effect of determination. With Coaches Across Continents by her side, she continues to light the way, inspiring girls in Zanzibar and beyond to reach for the stars!
Elvis Nsimba : Creating Safe and Thriving Communities in the DRC
“I grew up in terrible conditions and extreme poverty; I do not want this to happen to other youths. This is our world, and at our period, I believe that with little effort from everyone, we can make it better than we found it. The story of my birth is the source of my motivation to create safe and thriving communities through sport, education, and economic empowerment.” Elvis Nshimba, the CAC Satellite Manager in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a testament to the opportunities for empowerment that we strive for at Coaches Across Continents.
Elvis met us as a Hat-Trick participant in 2014 while working as a teacher at Malaika Primary School. Back then, the CAC curricula was only delivered in English, and having seen the problems of communication, Elvish chose to be the solution and helped Coaches Across Continents translate the curricula.
“It is here that I got infected with the kind of passion that the CAC team exhibited while creating such impactful empowerment opportunities. That was the first time I heard of “Sport for Social Impact,” and I loved the concept. I started dedicating my time to teaching every day from morning to 2 p.m. and dedicating the rest of my afternoon time to learning CAC games. My passion for sports for development and the fact that I had the opportunity to discover the world beyond my country unlocked my leadership skills. Delivering purposeful play has contributed to the improvement of both my personal and professional life.”
Through his journey, Elvis grew along to become a CAC Accredited Coach, has delivered packages of CAC games as a Community Impact Coach in DRC. He has traveled on behalf of CAC to deliver purposeful play in Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zanzibar. We are excited to have Elvis on our journey of empowering people across the globe.
David Mulo Odour : Volunteer to Visionary, Green-Kenya Founder and CAC Satellite Manager
David Mich is our satellite manager in Kenya. He has been with CAC for almost a decade, and now he takes care of all the CAC programs in his part of the world.
“I started volunteering with Coaches Across Continents in 2011–2012 as a Community Impact Coach, and during this time I was able to travel to different counties in Kenya alongside the CAC staff. In the process of impacting different communities through play, I developed an interest in doing the same for my own community.” – David’s journey has been an exercise in self-directed learning with the courage to give it back to society.
Dedicated to the cause of empowering communities, David founded Green-Kenya in 2014 – “I wanted to reach many children, not only in Kenya but in Africa in general. Ten years down the line, with Coaches Across Continents, I have grown up into an Accredited coach, Green Kenya has evolved into an Accredited Organisation in Africa, and now I am honing the expertise of a sport for social impact consultant. The vision is to enhance the capacity of youth to transform their lives and communities through sports to earn and create employment in Africa.”
David is changing lives in Africa. Coaches Across Continents is proud of having been a part of David’s journey.
This year, at Coaches Across Continents, we took this bold step towards decentralization, establishing Satellite Offices led by extraordinary leaders across the globe. Salim Twaha Blanden, Fatma Said, Elvis Nsimba, and David Mich are living embodiments of the organization’s mission to create positive change through sports. From Uganda to Zanzibar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya, these remarkable individuals are leaving an indelible mark on their communities, one play at a time. Their stories inspire us all to believe in the power of sports as a catalyst for meaningful, lasting change. Together, they exemplify the global impact that can be achieved when passion, dedication, and purpose align.
