Franca – Inspiring Female Empowerment in South Africa

Franca travelled from the Netherlands to South Africa to volunteer with United Through Sport for 12 weeks. Working in a nursery back home, she had always loved supporting children and watching them develop and grow, while boxing had become an important part of her own life.

“Sport has always been a positive outlet for me, helping me clear my mind, build confidence, and stay focused.”

Wanting to combine these two passions, she began looking for an opportunity that would allow her to work with young people through sport while also experiencing a completely different culture.

“When I came across United Through Sport (UTS), I saw it as the perfect opportunity to combine my passion for working with children and my love for sport.”

Inspiring Young People Through Sport

During her three months in Port Elizabeth, Franca made the most of every opportunity available. She coached a variety of sports. Whether she was supporting children in the classroom or introducing them to a new sport, every day was different and brought new opportunities to learn.

“Through these experiences, I learned the value of trying new things and embracing challenges.”

For Franca, volunteering was not just about teaching sport. It was about encouraging children to believe in themselves, step outside of their comfort zones, and enjoy the benefits that being active can bring.

Making an Impact Through the Boxing Programme

The biggest highlight of Franca’s placement was her involvement in the UTS Boxing Programme. Although she coached a range of sports, boxing quickly became the area where she felt she could make the greatest difference.

As her placement progressed, she became increasingly involved, eventually coaching boxing every day because of the impact she could see it having on the young people she worked with.

“Towards the end of my placement, I found myself coaching boxing every day instead of just twice a week because it was where I felt most passionate and where I believed I was making the greatest difference.”

One aspect of the programme that was particularly important to her was encouraging more girls to take part. As a sport that is often viewed as male-dominated, boxing became a platform to help young girls build confidence and realise what they were capable of achieving.

“Teaching girls that they are just as capable of participating and succeeding helped them develop self-belief, confidence, and valuable self-defence skills.”

Seeing that growth, both inside and outside of the ring, became one of the most rewarding parts of her experience.

Experiencing South Africa

Beyond the volunteering itself, living and working in South Africa became a huge part of Franca’s journey. Meeting new people, adapting to a different culture, and embracing new experiences helped her grow not only as a coach but also as a person.

“Living and working in South Africa exposed me to new people, new surroundings, and a different culture.”

The support she received from the UTS coordinators, staff, and fellow volunteers gave her the confidence to take on new challenges and helped her realise that she could genuinely make a difference through the boxing programme.

A Moment to Remember

One of Franca’s favourite memories came during a boxing session at a local school. As the children practised combinations, they began clapping and encouraging one another, creating an atmosphere of support, teamwork, and fun.

Watching their progress over the course of the placement made her incredibly proud, not only because their boxing skills had improved, but because of the confidence they had gained along the way.

“Seeing how much they had improved, not only in their boxing ability but also in their confidence and willingness to learn, was incredibly rewarding.”

“Watching them develop new skills and grow as individuals made me feel proud and grateful to be part of their journey.”

Looking Back

Looking back on her time with United Through Sport, Franca believes the experience showed her the power of sport to inspire, educate, and empower young people. It allowed her to combine her passion for boxing with her love of working with children, while making friendships and memories that will stay with her for years to come.

“My time with UTS showed me the power of sport to inspire, educate, and empower young people. The experiences, lessons, and relationships I gained will stay with me forever.”