BFA Launches Sixth Community Football Hub in The Ivy, St. Michael in Collaboration with NPP and Government of Barbados

The Barbados Football Association (BFA), in collaboration with the National Peace Program (NPP) and the Government of Barbados, has launched its sixth community football hub in The Ivy, St. Michael.

The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to engage young people through sport while incorporating personal development and conflict resolution training.

The Ivy hub joins existing football hubs in Pinelands, Deacons, Eden Lodge, Passage Road, and Brittons Hill as part of the football component of the NPP. The program includes both on-field and off-field sessions aimed at fostering youth engagement and skill development.

Speaking at the launch on Tuesday evening, BFA Special Projects Coordinator Amanda James noted the significance of the expansion, describing it as the result of collaboration between the association, the NPP, and local communities.

“Launching a sixth community hub is a very special achievement and is the result of a dedicated team of individuals as well as the continued collaboration between the BFA, the National Peace Program, and our local communities,” James said.

She emphasized the positive impact of sports on young people, adding, “Sport is a tool that we can use to impact people’s lives, and I have no doubt that this new hub in The Ivy will carry the baton forward and pave the way for us to have even more of a positive impact on Barbadian children. We are looking forward to welcoming more participants into this new hub, especially girls, and seeing our youth thrive and excel with football as the driving force.”

BFA President Randy Harris also addressed those in attendance, underscoring the role of football in uniting communities and fostering social cohesion.

“In the wake of recent tragic events and the wave of local gun violence, the continued roll-out of the BFA’s collaboration with the National Peace Program is more important now than ever,” he stated.

He further emphasized the association’s commitment to working alongside national efforts to address social challenges, saying, “We remain committed to partnering with this holistic national initiative that is dedicated to strengthening our communities and providing opportunities to our youth through football. Football is a place where communities can come together and put their differences aside, and the BFA stands firm in our zero-tolerance policy towards violence of any kind.”

Harris also commended the government’s role in supporting the initiative, saying, “I commend the Government of Barbados for their commitment to this program, and we stand with the Prime Minister, the Government, and other entities, and of course our local communities, to working together to carve out solutions that will foster peace and unity amongst all Barbadians.”