AFC Approves Three-year Football for Dignity Programme
Sumaira FH | Published October 06, 2026 | 03:30 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 06th Oct, 2026) The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Social Responsibility Committee has approved a three-year “Football for Dignity” programme aimed at promoting inclusion and education through football.
The programme, approved at the Committee's fourth meeting held virtually on Tuesday, will run from January 2027 to December 2029 and will be managed by the Kuala Lumpur-based Dignity for Children Foundation.
Building on the Dignity Cup, which has engaged more than 11,030 players since 2006, the programme will:
- Provide peace education workshops to approximately 40 schools annually.
- Offer football-based training on conflict resolution and fair play.
- Host an annual "Peace Camp" for cultural exchange.
- Organize the Dignity Cup tournament.
It is expected to engage around 1,350 refugees and asylum seekers from 22 countries each year, along with students from local public, private, international, and indigenous schools.
Committee Chairperson Zaw Zaw highlighted the role of the inaugural AFC Dream Asia Foundation Conference 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in strengthening partnerships for community support through football.
The Committee welcomed new collaborations with Indonesia's Yayasan ASA Asia and Malaysia's The Lost Food Project, and introduced programme audits to enhance transparency and project impact assessment.
Members reviewed:
- The AFC Social Responsibility Toolkit 2026.
- The expanded AFC Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy 2026, both launched in August.
- AFC Certificate in Child Safeguarding participation, with notable completion rates.
The Committee noted the AFC Dream Asia Foundation board of Trustees' approval for four community initiatives:
- Northern Mariana Islands Football Association's "Rebuild, Better, Stronger" Programme.
- Myanmar Football Federation's Mandalay Football academy Recovery Programme.
- Kawasaki Frontale's "Blue Dream" Programme.
- Sharjah Football Club's "Football for Hope" Programme.
The meeting concluded with updates on ongoing and completed social responsibility programmes across Asian football.