Our Initiatives
Sport, play and physical activity for development across Ghana
Scholarships for Needy Students
We provide scholarships to underprivileged students, ensuring they have access to quality education. Our scholarship program aims to:
- Support academic excellence
- Provide educational resources
- Mentor students for success
- Create opportunities for growth
Health, Physical Activity and NCD Prevention
We use sport and physical activity to promote health and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghanaian communities. NCDs such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity and stroke are a growing share of the country’s disease burden, and regular physical activity is one of the most accessible ways to reduce the risk. Our health work:
- Uses regular physical activity to lower NCD risk factors such as high blood pressure, raised blood sugar and obesity
- Raises awareness of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases
- Promotes healthy, active lifestyles for children, youth and adults
- Runs health education workshops alongside our sport sessions
Education and Life Skills
We focus on developing both academic and essential life skills through sports:
- Leadership development programs
- Team-building activities
- Communication skills training
- Problem-solving workshops
Gender Equity and Empowerment
We promote gender equality and empower women and girls through sports:
- Women's sports programs
- Leadership opportunities
- Mentorship programs
- Skills development workshops
Conflict Prevention and Peace Building
We use sports as a tool for conflict resolution and peace building:
- Peace through sports programs
- Conflict resolution training
- Community dialogue sessions
- Youth leadership development
What is sport for development?
Sport for development (sometimes called sport for development and peace) is the deliberate use of sport, play and physical activity to achieve goals beyond the game itself — better health, wider access to education, stronger communities and more peaceful, inclusive societies. The sport is the means; the development outcome is the point.
Why it matters in Ghana
Ghana has a young population and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases. Physical inactivity is one of the risk factors behind conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and obesity, and it is also one of the most affordable to address: a football, an open space and a coach reach far more people than a clinic can. Sport is already part of daily life here, which makes it a practical entry point for health promotion, life skills and youth empowerment rather than an add-on.
How PlayChange works
PlayChange Foundation was founded by students of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon. We design sport and play sessions that carry something alongside them — a health talk, a life skills exercise, a mentoring conversation, a scholarship — so that turning up to play also means access to education, health knowledge and support. Our work is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities and sustainable communities.
Social Inclusion
We work to reduce discrimination and promote inclusivity through sports: