The clue is in the name, Grass to Gold.
Over the past five years an Australian Foundation, Grass to Gold, has worked alongside the Netball Uganda to better understand the barriers and opportunities shaping netball across Uganda from grassroots to performance level.
From building relationships with the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports and mapping out a roll out plan for primary and secondary school netball programmes, to developing coaching and officiating frameworks they have placed a real focus on blending sport, community and education to help create a better world through netball.
The Foundation is now pleased to announce they have secured a site in Kampala to build a world-class netball facility, with netball courts fully aligned with international standards alongside an exciting business innovation hub to ensure the facility remains financially self-sustaining.
The centre will give Uganda an official high-performance training base, and the opportunity to host international series’.
In addition to this, in line with Grass to Gold’s goal to increase access to schooling and sports for young women at the grassroots level, the centre will host local school netball competitions to nurture grassroots talent.
Via their new Education and Sport programmes Grass to Gold will target girls aged 5 – 16, combining practical netball skill-development with classroom sessions focused on building self-confidence, health education, and leadership.
Whilst through their scholarship programme, they plan to support families, ensuring girls can re-enter and remain in the education system.
Over the next two years they will now focus on implementing the new programmes in targeted schools across Uganda, whilst also looking at ways to support the national women’s team as they prepare for their upcoming international events, including the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.
Paul Mugambwa, Co-founder and Director, Grass to Gold Foundation, said: “We have personally seen the amazing outcomes that sport can generate for many people, extending far beyond the playing courts in terms of education, employment, self-confidence and community harmony.”
“Our aim is to utilise the power of netball to truly transform the lives women and young girls in Uganda and beyond.”
Grass to Gold is currently finishing the design phase for the netball centre in Kampala.
To find out more Grass to Gold, visit their website here.