For many young people, the winter school holidays offer a break from the classroom. For more than 60 learners in the Kick4Life Academy, however, these holidays became an opportunity to continue learning, growing and developing both on and off the pitch. Running from 22 June to 23 July, the 2026 Kick4Life Academy Winter Camp brought together students in Grades 8 to 11 for four weeks of academic support, life skills development and character enrichment, and football coaching, reflecting the Academy’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded young people.
One of the highlights this year was a Financial Literacy session delivered by Liberty Life Lesotho. Further details below.
Each day followed a carefully structured programme built around the three interconnected pillars of the Academy.
Mornings were dedicated to Academic Tutoring from 09:00 to 12:00, followed by Character Enrichment sessions from 12:00 to 13:00, before participants took to the pitch for Football training from 14:00 to 17:00. Together, these elements created an environment where learners could strengthen their academic performance, develop important life skills and continue progressing as student-athletes throughout the school holidays.
Academic support
Throughout the four weeks, learners received academic support designed to strengthen their classroom performance. Tutors worked with students across key subjects including Mathematics, English, Sesotho, Sciences, Geography and Accounting, providing targeted group and one-on-one support based on individual learning needs. The Academy’s Academics Pillar combines tutoring, mentorship, skills development, career guidance, online learning support, extracurricular activities and community service opportunities to help learners realise their full potential.
Reflecting on the success of the Winter Camp, Kick4Life Academy Academics Coordinator, Likhapha Khemi, highlighted the value of having extended time to support learners, revisit challenging topics and reflect on ways to strengthen the tutoring programme.
“The Winter Camp was a great success and gave us enough time to strengthen our students’ understanding of areas they previously struggled with, while also allowing us to reflect on our tutoring sessions and identify areas for improvement. I would like to thank our tutors for their hard work, dedication and commitment to supporting our participants to achieve better grades, and commend our participants for their consistent attendance, active participation and eagerness to learn. I would also like to thank parents for their continued support in ensuring that their children attended the sessions.”
Khemi added that the Academy looks forward to building on this success as it continues supporting student-athletes to excel both academically and on the football pitch.
Life Skills & Character Enrichment
One of the highlights of this year’s Winter Camp was a Financial Literacy training session delivered by Liberty Life Lesotho. This specialist life insurance company provides group and individual risk insurance solutions, comprehensive health cover, and financial products. During an interactive classroom session, participants explored key financial habits such as spending, saving, and investing to equip them with practical money management skills and encourage responsible financial decision-making from a young age. They then took these lessons to the football pitch through practical activities, reflecting Kick4Life’s commitment to delivering education beyond the classroom walls through its football-for-good methodology. By combining financial literacy with football, participants were able to apply the concepts in a fun and engaging environment, gaining practical knowledge and lifelong skills that will help them make informed financial decisions well into the future. For participants, the Winter Camp left a lasting impression both academically and personally.
Mateba Lehohla, a 16-year-old Grade 10 Tiny Tots scholar and a player in Kick4Life’s Under-17 Boys Development Team, attended every session of the Winter Camp and described the experience as both enjoyable and valuable. Reflecting on the academic component, he shared that the camp helped him gain a deeper understanding of concepts he had previously struggled with at school, particularly trigonometry in Mathematics. Through the guidance of tutors, he was able to engage with the topic in a way that was easier to understand, with clear explanations and practical demonstrations helping him build confidence.
“Before the camp, trigonometry was something I struggled to understand, but the way the tutors explained it made it much easier for me. I now feel more confident in Mathematics and believe I will do better when school starts again.”
Mateba also highlighted the financial literacy session as one of the standout experiences of the camp. While he was already familiar with the importance of saving money, he said the training reinforced those lessons and deepened his understanding of personal finance. In particular, he appreciated learning about the 50–30–20 budgeting rule, a simple method of allocating income into 50% for needs, 30% for wants and 20% for savings. He explained that the approach made financial planning easier to understand and showed him how responsible money management can be applied in everyday life.
Football Training
As most of the Academy participants are primary and secondary school learners, balancing their academic commitments with football often means they are unable to attend regular training sessions during the school term. The Winter Camp therefore provided a valuable opportunity for them to train consistently over an extended period, improve their technical and tactical abilities, and gain more competitive game time.
The increased exposure proved beneficial for several participants. During the camp, the Lesotho Under-17 national team coach visited the Kick4Life Centre to observe the players in action, giving them a rare opportunity to showcase their talent. Following the visit, several Academy participants earned call-ups to the national Under-17 team, highlighting the camp’s role not only in supporting academic development but also in creating pathways for young footballers to progress to the highest levels of the game.
As another successful Winter Camp ends, it leaves behind more than improved academic knowledge or football skills. It reinforces the value of an education model that gives equal importance to learning, character and sport, helping young people become more confident learners, responsible teammates and resilient individuals.
The Winter Camp also offers a snapshot of the work that continues throughout the year within the Kick4Life Academy. Through its three-pillar approach of Football, Academics and Character Enrichment, the Academy remains committed to equipping young people with the knowledge, resilience and life skills they need to thrive in the classroom, contribute positively to their communities and pursue their ambitions with confidence, both on and off the pitch.
