My

Story

Maridoshe

My name is Maridoshe and I come from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I was born in Goma City, a place that is rich in natural resources but has been affected by conflict for many years. I grew up in a stable environment in a good family, but when the war reached our area, we lost everything. My father was killed during the conflict, and my family had to flee to Uganda. For the last ten years, I have been living in a refugee settlement with my mother and my siblings.

I now work as a peer educator in a primary school in my village. The school has around 600 children from different backgrounds, including Congolese, Ugandans and South Sudanese. I work mainly with the health club and debate club, where I promote peaceful coexistence and encourage children to stay in school. I am especially passionate about supporting both girls and boys, because every child deserves the chance to learn and build a better future.

My community faces many challenges. Due to reductions in humanitarian funding, life has become more difficult for many refugee families. Economic opportunities are limited and some young people are exposed to serious risks because they struggle to meet their basic needs. This is why creating safe spaces for children and young people is so important.

The biggest lesson I learned during the Young Coach Education is that leadership is about solving problems with the resources that are available. Even if you only have one ball, you can still create opportunities for many children if you plan well and work together. I also learned a lot about child protection and how football can be used to support children’s development. The technical sessions were very valuable because they showed me how to make training sessions more engaging and enjoyable through games and activities instead of only focusing on physical exercises.

When I return to my community, I want to use what I have learned to start my own football academy. I plan to work closely with local schools and community leaders so that as many children as possible can participate. The academy will be open to everyone, regardless of their background or ability level. My goal is not only to nurture talented players but also to use football as a tool to promote education, health and peaceful coexistence. Through football, I want to help children believe in themselves and create opportunities for a better future.