About
Building a better future in Sierra Leone
In 2008 Craig Bellamy founded Sierra Leoneʼs first professional football academy and a unique nationwide youth development league to empower a new generation of talent to change their own and their communities lives for the better.
Craigʼs journey
Out of this initial hope was born the Craig Bellamy Foundation. A charity founded by Craig to offer the children of Sierra Leone the right to dream
In 2007 Welsh International football star Craig Bellamy visited a friend in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Best known for its “blood diamonds” and nine year violent civil war Craig saw through the devastation, poverty and desperation and saw the potential for a project that could offer hope. Out of this initial hope was born the Craig Bellamy Foundation. A charity founded by Craig to offer the children of Sierra Leone the right to dream. Using the one thing Craig knows and loves, football, the project has been designed to inspire positive personal and social development through the power of sport.
The Foundation now boasts a network of nation-wide football development leagues with 1,600 registered members, aged 10-14. Further leagues for girls and the differently-abled will be implemented later in 2010. Alongside the league and opening in May 2010 is a state of the art football academy designed to offer the best in coaching and education. Underpining the project is a desire to offer hope to all that encounter the Craig Bellamy Foundation and to offer the children of Sierra Leone the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Mike
March 10, 2010
Total and uttermost respect!
Chris Mac Manus
March 10, 2010
a ray of light to see something so positive help so many kids, is there any way of volunteering over the summer maybe?
Gizew
April 11, 2010
Great Job Bellamy.
I wish you all success in your project.
Your fan in Europe from Ethiopian origin.
Jon Lunn
April 21, 2010
Good luck with the Academy and keep up the good work! I am involved with an organisation in Sierra Leone called Fambul Tok, which is promoting community-level reconciliation. Amongst our many initiatives, we support village-level ‘Football for reconciliation’ matches for young people in Kailahun, Kono, Moyamba and Koinadugu. Perhaps, when the time is right, we should explore ways of co-operating in future. Take a look at our website for more information about us.
Best, Jon Lunn (West Ham fan – no hard feelings!)
Ngozi
June 5, 2010
I’ve just listened to the report on the BBC World Service about your work with the Academy. I am impressed by the concept and how things are developing. I do hope it’s early success can also act as a prompt to get the local FA to work constructively with the Government…
Pritch
June 6, 2010
Craig,
This is awesome, good luck with the academy and promoting football. This will give the boys and girls hope with education and sport, a fine combination. John, Chairman, STBGFC.
Paul Quirk
June 27, 2010
Craig, having been brought up a City Fan I would like to say your Foundation captures everything I love about our sport. Teamwork, Pride & Fun. Its also nice to see you spending your money on something beneficial rather than a Pink Landrover or £100k Fish Tank..
Peace
Paul Quirk
Manchester
Paul Moores
July 3, 2010
Craig is a diamond, you don’t hear about half the stuff this guy does to help the less fortunate.
Well done Craig and all your staff at the foundation
Iain
July 13, 2010
Well done mate – very impressive and heartening to see that you are carrying on in the Celtic spirit and culture. Welcome back to Glasgow anytime (though soon would be nice).
Hail hail
Pete Swanson
July 15, 2010
Well done Craig,
How refreshing in a cynical world that you have decided to do something so worthwile,I wish you all the best with your project and I’m sure you will be successful.
Swanny
kene agbasiere
July 25, 2010
I am really impressed with the work this foundation is doing and I am happy to see that there are people who are working in their own little ways to improve the life of many. Keep it up!!!
ice
July 31, 2010
respect! this site has touched me. i am not a fan of footballers but you are totally different. i have the utmost respect for people like you who say it as it is and have honour. what a fantastic guy! keep up the good work. shame there are not more like you in the world of greedy egotistical footballers. good luck for the new season ahead.
stephen
August 10, 2010
Top marks goes to a guy who played for my team. Sharing your wealth and using your name for the benefit of youngsters who love football.
Power to you! Love you back at Celtic Park
Mark Johnson
August 12, 2010
Craig,
Well done you for setting your foundation up.You get a lot of stick. Most of it undeserved but very little is said about the great work you are doing here.
I wish you all the success in the world
Johnners(WHU supporter in peace!)
pigalle
August 12, 2010
Keep up the good good work, Craig.
You are a credit to football.
Chris Sonne
August 16, 2010
This is brilliant. Craig, you are living the spirit of ‘you’ll never walk alone’. You are making sure these children experience that spirit and don’t walk alone in the storm they face each day in their lives.
Warren Crawford
August 17, 2010
Despite the bad boy side of you we see sometimes, I admire you for this, Craig. More than a lot of other footballers put together. Good Luck at your beloved Cardiff City; please don’t score against North End, though.
Simon Rees
August 18, 2010
Much respect, Craig. Brilliant work. Hats off to you from a Cardiff City fan. I look forward to seeing you on the pitch at the CCS.
Rebecca
August 19, 2010
Craig, I have just spent easily the past hour looking through this website and through articles related to the work that you are carrying out in Sierra Leone and I have to say that I think it is absolutely fantastic! As a Cardiff City and Wales fan I have always thought of you as a fantastic footballer and seeing all the good that you are doing proves to me that you are just as good off the pitch! All the best with the Craig Bellamy Foundation (and let’s get City to the Premier!!)