– participants to receive an international scholarship

Fifty Guyanese girls will benefit from professional football coaching and crucial life skills training through the Women in Football Development Programme, launched by the Vurlon Mills Football Academy in partnership with SBM Offshore Guyana.

Selected participant(s) will receive an international scholarship to advance their tertiary or technical education.
The programme will foster development through basic football skills as well as positive self-development traits such as leadership, decision-making, communication, problem-solving and healthy lifestyle choices.

Through this collaboration, the participants, who are between the ages of 13 and 19, will be exposed to the fundamentals of football through training sessions and coaching by the Vurlon Mills Football Academy.

During the launch of the programme on September 29, SBM Offshore Guyana’s General Manager, Mr. Martin Cheong reiterated the company’s support for youth development, saying, “We believe that by investing in young people through sports, education or capacity-building programmes, we can tangibly contribute to Guyana’s upward trajectory towards a prosperous future through its human resources.”

Founder of the Academy, Mr. Vurlon Mills expressed his excitement at the commencement of this new programme, saying, “Football transcends the boundary of a mere sport. It teaches us co-operation, grit and sportsmanship. It bestows upon us the values of self-discipline and respect. By the culmination of this programme, we aspire for our participants to not only master the game but to also embody the life skills essential for leadership and empowerment.”

Head of the Unit of Allied Arts at the Ministry of Education, Mr. Nicholas Fraser emphasised the role of sports in building self-esteem and confidence, saying, “Having a football programme is very good for self-esteem. Having young females being able to build their confidence, being able to learn something and do it with confidence, that is something that really helps the emotional – as well as the development of females.”

Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation, Mr. Bryan Joseph, extended his support to the team, saying “On behalf of the Guyana Football Federation, I want to congratulate SBM [Offshore], the Vurlon Mills [Football] Academy and all the young ladies.”

SBM Offshore Guyana continues to support projects that nurture the development of Guyanese. The programme is also in keeping with the company’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal Three, Good Health and Well-being.