Paying it forward is at the heart of our foundation, from here to anywhere.
Bula Tsela Foundation creates pathways for young people through sport, education and leadership development. Our mission is to ensure that talent determines opportunity, not background.
Introduction
Bula Tsela Foundation is a youth development organisation that uses football, mentorship and education support to help young people unlock their full potential. Through structured programmes and strategic partnerships, we transform sporting talent into academic opportunities.
Our Vision
A generation whose future is determined by their talent, not their background.
Our Mission
To transform sporting talent into educational pathways, building resilient communities capable of overcoming challenges.
What to do
Join us in supporting the next generation of leaders through sport, education and mentorship.
1. Become a partner by supporting youth development through sponsorship and strategic partnerships.
2. Volunteer to mentor young athletes and contribute to community programmes.
3. Donate to help fund scholarships, equipment and development programmes.
4. Join the foundation because membership is open to individuals who support the mission and objectives of the organisation.
Testimonials
“Sports has the power to change the world, to inspire, and to unite…” ~ Nelson Mandela. Travelling to the United States with a group of boys from different social backgrounds was eye opening for me. From that trip, I knew that there was a world of possibilities beyond the borders of our townships. The experience allowed me to dream bigger than I could have ever imagined and for that I’m forever grateful. Subsequently, I went on to have a successful 12year career as a professional footballer.
…Let me start by saying how thankful I am to Moses and Susam Tsambo for being such God’s gifts to many of us at Kagisano Legacy Project. “Thank you. Thank you very much.” I’m where I am today because you paved the way and opened doors for me I never knew existed. I’m a high school and university graduate because of you. Never to forget my host family, the Fingerson’s which I still in contact with to-date. “Thank you.”
I grew up in the township of Soweto where resources for school or sports activities were very scares. In 1996 I got an opportunity to travel to the US and play in a youth soccer tournament. This trip opened many doors for many of us on the team. Some became professional footballers, others became coaches, doctors, bankers, and and…I’m truly grateful for the opportunity.
For me, the trip was a great experience. I loved how instead of staying in hotels, we stayed with American host families. This allowed for us to soak up the culture and see how people in that part of the world lived their daily lives. The host families were good to us. I take my hat off to the organizers. Top Class.
In 1996, my family was blessed to become host parents for three young men from Soweto, South Africa that came to America to participate in a soccer tournament. The plan was for them to remain in America for one year, but, thankfully, they stayed on through high school and all three went to college on soccer scholarships. They were AND are blessings to our family!!! I am so proud they became serious about education and have become successful men.
In 1996 I was on a select football team called Soweto Kagisano which participated in a U15 tournament in Louisville, KY USA. For me it was the first time ever being on an airplane and it was an experience and a half. From that tournament, I got a chance to live and go to school in America. I lived with an amazing “host family” in Bardstown, KY. Today I’m a man with his own family and I’m grateful for the opportunities sports has provided for me.
Moving to the US was an eye opener for me. In South Africa, making it to the professional league was my only way out. Or so I thought. I had no Plan B. Plus, I didn’t know anybody from my neighborhood that graduated from college. But when I arrived in the America, I realized that being a professional footballer wasn’t the only way to a successful life. The opportunities were in abundance. I used sports to graduate from college and played football professionally.
I left South Africa and moved to the United States at a young age through Word of Light Foundation. I’m happy to say that I was able to graduate from college and was a professional athlete for 9years. I’m appreciative of the opportunity.
Soweto Kagisano has played a huge role in my life. It made me believe that nothing was impossible. I came from nothing but today I’m an MBA graduate and is employed by one of the best investment companies (Bank of America Merrill Lynch) in the United States. I’m grateful of what Soweto Kagisano presented to me.
I left Mzansi because I was going through a rough time. I couldn’t get a job. I couldn't afford to go to school. Things were not looking-up. When an opportunity to study in the US presented itself, I went with it. I got my bachelor’s degree and MBA. I worked for a bank at first and then worked with a Start-Up which is doing well currently. I now run my own successful football academy and through that I’m an employer. Who would have thought?
As a Kentucky couple that hosted three South African teens pursuing education through soccer in 1996, despite never meeting them, I'm glad that their parents entrusted them across continents. Twenty seven years later, the partnership has brought education, family bonds, cultural exchange, and lifelong friendships, enriching both families and proving faith can transform lives.
Our Partners
