Sport for Life! International

What Sport for Life! International does

Sport for Life! International is a London-based non-profit volunteer movement founded in 2007 that delivers human development programs through sport and education across 8 countries in Africa and Southeast Asia: Timor-Leste, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Zambia, São Tomé & Príncipe, Botswana, and Malawi. The organization scales via a replication pyramid model—training trainers of trainers of trainers—supported by a "zero-dollar" approach that enables resource-constrained communities to implement programs without external funding. Core beneficiaries are youth who progress from participants to facilitators, managers, and leaders; secondary customers include National Olympic Committees and international development organizations such as UNESCO, Olympic Solidarity, GIZ, UNDP, Marie Stopes, and Oxfam.

The product stack centers on a methodology documented in the Sport for Life Manual (translated into 5 languages), a 100+ file Drive library of editable resources, Sport for Life TV on YouTube, an interactive Sport for Life Map on Google Data Studio, and the Sport for Life Bot, a ChatGPT-powered AI assistant for 24/7 implementation support. A Youth for Life sub-brand adapts the methodology to non-sport focus areas (Business, Art, Music, Science, Tech, Languages, Water, Forests, Agriculture, Health, Journalism). Delivery combines a self-serve startup kit for community-led replication, a $50/$100 online Sport for Life Course, paid International Master Facilitator services for workshops and retreats, and annual Global Forums for alumni engagement. The organization is led by Founder & Director Nuno Delicado and Director Virginia da Graça with a core team of approximately 5 international facilitators and a small footprint of country-level coordinators, operating without disclosed venture, private equity, or institutional investment.

Name

Sport for Life! International

Legal name

Sport for Life

Website

https://sport-for-life.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sport for Life! International is a London-based non-profit volunteer movement that uses sport and education to empower youth across 8 countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, scaling through a train-the-trainer replication model and zero-dollar community-led implementation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sport for Development / Youth Empowerment Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sport-Specific Skills Coaching (e.g., soccer, basketball, tennis) (HSADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Recreational & Intramural Sports Programs (MPAKACAG)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Sport for development
• Volunteer training
• Facilitation services
• Youth leadership courses

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Course Fees: Online and in-person Sport for Life courses offered at two tiers: Standard ($50) for self-paced learning with workshop access, and Premium ($100) adding individual coaching and mentorship during implementation
2. Facilitation Services: Hiring of professional facilitators for workshops, retreats, team building, and organizational development. Available in Timor-Leste, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, and online with international travel capability
3. Grants and Institutional Funding: Partnerships with UNESCO, Olympic Solidarity, National Olympic Committees, and development agencies (GIZ, UNDP) for program implementation and capacity building

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sport for Life! International delivers a sport-for-development methodology through an integrated suite of products and services: the Sport for Life Manual and 100+ resource Drive in 5 languages, a paid 7-week online Sport for Life Course ($50 Standard / $100 Premium), the AI-powered Sport for Life Bot, Sport for Life TV video content, professional Facilitation Services for NGOs and organizations, and the Youth for Life sub-brand. The organization sells training, facilitation, and methodology resources to individuals and institutions while operating a volunteer-movement model across 8 countries in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Product overview

Sport for Life! International offers a methodology-based program centered on human development through sport and education. The core offering consists of the Sport for Life Manual (available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish) combined with the Sport for Life Drive containing 100+ editable resources. The organization has expanded into AI-powered support via the Sport for Life Bot (a ChatGPT-based chatbot), digital content through Sport for Life TV and Publications, and live programming via the Impact Academy (offering courses and facilitation services). The Youth for Life sub-brand adapts the methodology to diverse sectors beyond sport. The company operates across 8 countries (Timor-Leste, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Zambia, São Tomé & Príncipe, Botswana, Malawi) with a train-the-trainer replication model and hosts annual Global Forums connecting alumni worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Youth for Life: Meta version of Sport for Life where sport is replaced by other focus areas chosen by youth such as Business for Life, Art for Life, Music for Life, Science for Life, Tech for Life, Languages for Life, Water for Life, Forests for Life, Agriculture for Life, Health for Life, Journalism for Life, etc.

Products and services

• Sport for Life Manual How-to guide for kicking off and managing Sport for Life initiatives, including facilitation chapters, course materials, and participant engagement guidelines. Available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
• Sport for Life Drive (Resources Library) Library of 100+ editable documents including course materials, forms, checklists, and templates for launching Sport for Life projects. Available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Tetum.
• Sport for Life Bot AI-powered chatbot providing 24/7 support for implementing Sport for Life programs, including launching in new countries, organizing courses, and running events.
• Sport for Life TV Video platform showcasing the Sport for Life movement in action, featuring training sessions, testimonials, and event coverage.
• Youth for Life Adaptation of the Sport for Life methodology where youth choose their focus area (Sport, Business, Art, Music, Science, Tech, Languages, Water, Forests, Agriculture, Health, Journalism). Includes training materials and course modules.
• Facilitation Services Professional facilitation for meetings, workshops, conferences, and retreats. Topics include Leadership, Strategic Planning, Project Management, Human Resources, Volunteer Management, Marketing, Facilitation Skills, Human-Centered Design, Social Entrepreneurship, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, and Coaching. Available in Timor-Leste, Cabo Verde, Mozambique, and online.
• Impact Academy Training programs including the Sport for Life Course (7-week online course) and other offerings such as Strategic Planning, Negotiation & Conflict Resolution, Effective Communication, Trust & Relationships, Problem Solving, and Coaching. Languages include English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Tetum.
• Sport for Life Course 7-week online course ($50–$100) teaching participants to create a clear vision, plan actions with deadlines, manage resources sustainably, define marketing strategies, develop partnerships, and create a functional organization. Includes workshops, videos, practical examples, and certificate.
• Sport for Life Map Interactive data visualization showing Sport for Life activities worldwide, built on Google Data Studio.
• Publications Research reports, annual reports, and educational resources including the Sport Management Handbook, How to Assess Impact, M-Olympics Gender Equality Report, Country Sport Maps, and annual reports from 2014-2020.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ facilitators trained as project multipliers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO supports Sport for Life as an ideal way to inspire and empower young generation to take charge of their lives, feel socially included, and formulate a positive vision of their future. Provides programme support and coverage of Train-the-Trainer/Youth Leadership Camps.
• Olympic SolidaritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOlympic Solidarity supports National Olympic Committees to develop sport and promote Olympic values through Sport for Life programs. Described as truly brilliant in assisting NOCs in Timor-Leste and Cabo Verde.
• Cabo Verde Olympic CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the 1st Sport for Life Forum in Sal, Cabo Verde (2019). Long-standing partner in launching and scaling Sport for Life programs in the country.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClient for Timor-Leste Youth Training Project. Sport for Life facilitators trained youth leaders from Aileu Youth Centre in facilitation techniques.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient for facilitation and training services. Virginia da Graça has conducted workshops for UNDP as part of national and international events.
• Marie Stopes Timor-LestemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngaged Sport for Life for week-long organizational retreat in Liquica for 100 staff with varying backgrounds. Described as the best retreat ever held.
• Olympafrica International FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented Olympafrica Social Development Program through Sport at the 2019 Forum. Program managers Marième Ly and Ndiate Sall participated as speakers.
• US Embassy Timor-LesteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVirginia da Graça has conducted workshops as guest speaker for US Embassy programs in Timor-Leste.
• Peace Corps Timor-LesteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVirginia da Graça has conducted workshops for Peace Corps volunteers and programs.
• OxfamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVirginia da Graça has conducted workshops as guest speaker for Oxfam programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Streetfootballworld: Global network organization that supports and connects local sport-for-development organizations. Comparable through its network of youth-focused sport programs across multiple developing countries, with a focus on capacity building rather than direct delivery.
• Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage: IOC-affiliated body that supports sport, culture, and education programs globally. Comparable through its Olympic Solidarity partnership network and youth-development focus, though at significantly larger institutional scale.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Foundation that funds and supports sport-for-development programs worldwide. Comparable in mission and target outcomes, but operates as a grantmaking and umbrella organization rather than a direct implementer of grassroots sport programs.

Direct peers

• PeacePlayers International: Uses basketball to unite children across divides in divided societies. Comparable as a sport-for-development NGO targeting youth in conflict-affected or developing regions with a sport-based youth empowerment methodology.
• Skateistan: Nonprofit using skateboarding and education to empower youth in low-income communities across multiple countries. Comparable volunteer-driven, youth-empowerment model with a sport-based methodology, though concentrated in skateboarding as the entry activity.
• Right to Play: Global sport-for-development NGO using sport and play to educate and empower children in disadvantaged communities. Directly comparable to Sport for Life in mission, methodology, and target beneficiary group, though operating at significantly larger scale across more countries.
• Coaches Across Continents: Nonprofit that partners with local organizations to implement sport-for-development curricula for youth in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Directly comparable in methodology (train-the-trainer, sport-plus-education) and target geographies.

Regional players

• Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA): Kenya-based youth sports and slum-community-development NGO using football to engage young people. Comparable as a sport-based youth development organization operating in low-income African communities, though focused on Kenya.
• Moving the Goalposts: Kenyan sport-for-development NGO using football for girls' empowerment and sexual/reproductive health education. Comparable in sport-plus-social-development methodology targeting African youth, but focused on a single country and football.

Others

• Oxfam: Major international development and humanitarian organization that engages youth through sport and education programs. Comparable as a client/partner type and shared focus on youth empowerment, but operates as a large generalist INGO rather than a sport-specific organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/SportforLifeChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/sportforlifemovement
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/live-sport-cic-ltd.-and-sport-for-life-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sport for Life! International