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Future goals
The growth - and direction of growth - of the Michezo Youth Initiative project is limited only by the efforts, desire and imagination of the youth participants. Guidance, training and experiences will be afforded to them to enable their hands on contribution to the growth. Following are some initial areas of expansion, though exactly where we will grow is up to the youth themselves, and the community members we will be working closely with.
- Three month and six month reviews of program to determine when to switch to "league" format. This review should happen in close partnership with youth volunteers and team representatives, as they will be running the league.
- Development of a realistic but comprehensive five year plan by the middle of the first year of the program, drawing from the "real world" first hand experiences gained from the first six months and plotting a path forward both from an implementation point of view as well as a funding and support point of view.
- Creation of "youth forums" consisting of youth representatives from within the targeted communities. These forums will not only review, recommend and implement the future football program initiatives but will also help to recommend and implement other community wide non-football youth initiatives and programs.
- Ongoing communication and development of relationship with local CBOs and other relevant community organisations. There are opportunities for the program to facilitate communications between the CBOs and community members, and to develop incentives for youth such as training programs and employment opportunities.
- Community service programs involving teams, volunteers and relevant stakeholders. Activities such as community clean-ups can be implemented over time, but believe our first focus should be the football itself and the life skills education component.
- Development of relationships with other football programs such as MYSA with the aim to have teams playing across regions.
- Development of other social, recreation and life skills education programs that can cater for those not interested in playing football. See Magic Bus India (www.magicbusindia.org) for an example.