Organisational Timeline

SCORE International

1990: Juliet Thompson, an Olympic rower from the US, visited the township of Khayelitsha, was shocked by what she saw and decided to start a sustainable sports development project.

1991: Lead by Juliet, five American volunteers worked in five schools in Khayelitsha. The success of this pilot project led to its adoption by the American World Teach programme and in April 1991, the name SCORE was in official use. In September of that year, Stefan Howells, the future Director, was appointed as the field co-ordinator.

1992: Under the co-ordination of Howells, the first international group of eleven volunteers from Britain, Canada and America worked in 10 schools in Khayelitsha.  Highlights for the year included: The second ever fun run in Khayelitsha and the introduction of school basketball and the SCORE 4 ALL after school program.

1993: The first five Dutch volunteers arrived. This was a critical year for SCORE as the security situation in the townships deteriorated to the point that volunteers were given the opportunity to return home. After they had gone, South African soccer star, David Notoane was the only active volunteer in this community.

1994: SCORE was officially registered as an NGO, with it's head office in a small bedroom in Observatory, Cape Town. The Dutch Olympic Committee sent down a new group of volunteers including Helga van Kampen and Marije Dippel who became the first co-ordinators.
SCORE adopted CERES as its first rural placement, where the volunteer stayed with a host family in the community. The first integration events took place, with black and white children playing volleyball and netball together.

1995: SCORE moved into offices at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa and Stefan Howells began working full time for the organisation.  Rural placements moved further afield with volunteers working in Deysselsdorp and George/Wilderness. White schools began getting involved in SCORE programs. Stefan Howells conducted a feasibility study for the Dutch Government for a SCORE project in Suriname.

1996: At the request of the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Congress, SCORE began projects in the Northern Province (now Limpopo Province) and Mpumalanga.  The urban and rural project continued to grow in the Western Cape Province.  A major sports festival showcasing the different SCORE programs was held in Matshiding in the Mpumalanga Province, its success led to many more such events.

1997: With support from a Dutch organisation for people with a disability, SCORE initiated a program for children with disabilities on the Cape Peninsula.

1998: SCORE began projects in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces. The Norwegian Sports Confederation became a partner.

1999: The Finnish Sports Federation started a partnership with SCORE.  SCORE started supporting a volunteer programme in Zimbabwe. SCORE had its first volunteer living with a host family in an urban community.

2000: SCORE became the first sports organisation to be granted money from the development budget of the European Union. This funding was for the 'Integrated Community Sports Program'.Its main objectives were focused on building the capacity of Youth and communities in 3main areas being Women and Girls, Sport leadership' Intergration and Fairplay in 50 communities around South Africa.
SCORE made its first border crossing, starting a project in Namibia, whilst at the same time expanding into the North West Province

2001: SCORE joins the Kicking AIDS Out! network and integrates HIV/AIDS awareness activities into its programs. SCORE expands its projects to include the Northern Cape province. An u14 girls soccer team from a SCORE community travels to Norway and competes in the worlds largest youth soccer tournament, the Norway Cup. Black and white children from rural and urban communities travel and play sports together in the Interplay Cross Country Train Ride.

2002: Another border crossed, SCORE starts working in Zambia.  An u16 boys team from Limpopo Province participates in the Norway Cup. Four Southern African volunteers travel to Norway on an exchange partnership.

2003: Awarded funding from PSO (Personnel Service Overseas) which is a 3year project bringing 30 volunteers to Southern Africa.  A large focus is on the delivery for the ICSP project and building additional facilities. Developed youth exchange program with Zimbabwe and Denmark.

2004: Completion of ICSP project and restructuring of organization. Completion of Dutch project.

2005: SCORE Zambia was registered.  SCORE was granted the UTI project which piloted various modules of new sport and life skills material. SCORE organized an Inter National Kicking AIDS Out youth football festival in Johannesburg celebrating the Norwegian Centennial Anniversary.

2006: National Lottery Project awarded and started in the Western Cape. SCORE Namibia was registered.  SCORE was given an opportunity to train youth with life skills and event management for 2 provincial departments. SCORE in Namibia trained the volunteers that participated in the SCSA Zone V1 under 20 youth games. SCORE with KNVB (Dutch) facilitated a coaching clinic for soccer in Johannesburg.  SCORE launched a new exciting short term volunteer program SCORE was invited to facilitate activities for youth in the International AIDS Conference in Toronto. SCORE Namibia got an opportunity to take a team to the Norway Cup

2007: Next step conference Windhoek. Launched the Cup of Heroes programme. Big Lottery Fund & Leading The Game program begins. NAMVIP & KAO projects are included in the National Development Plan of the Namibia #3. SCORE Namibia is registered as an NGO. MOU signed wioth Supreme Council for Sport in Africa Zone VI. The community of Swakopmund goes to Norway Cup. ZINGO & project in faith based schools. 1st IDEALS (short term vol prog – UK Sport) volunteers Namibia. FK Norway awards SCORE with Gold Partner Award.

2008: SCORE SA starts opperating in Gauteng Province. SCORE Volunteers from SA, NAM, ZAM & Lesotho go to Zone VI Youth Games. June 21 – 85 former volunteers attend Alumni reunion in Amsterdam. Two visits from ICC. Visit by UK Minister of Sport. The community of Moshate goes to Norway Cup.

2009: SCORE SA launches offices in Pretoria. Build a multi-purpose court in Khayelitsha as part of an Adidas 2010 legacy project. SA, Namibia & Zambia are represented in Cup of Heroes. The community of Windhoek goes to Norway Cup.

SCORE Namibia

1999: With the support of The Namibian Association of Norway (NAMAS), NIF and the Finish Government, SCORE conducted a feasibility study to establish if an autonomous national branch of SCORE could be established in Namibia. Two Namibian volunteers participated in the first South-South Volunteer Exchange with a 6-month placement and training in South Africa.

2000: The Namibian Ministry of Youth and Sport visited SCORE South Africa and soon after SCORE Namibia was officially launched. SCORE Namibia receives five volunteers, two from Namibia and three from Norway. The primary focus of SCORE Namibia in the early days was on the sport of basketball, Physical Education and school sport.

2001: An agreement was signed between SCORE Namibia and the Finish Sports Federation to support one Finish volunteer. By 2001 SCORE was working in three communities in Namibia, these were Opuwo, Rundu and Khorixas.

2002: The Namibian operations expanded to work in four regions and the first official SCORE Team Leader was taken on to support SCORE volunteers in their communities.

2003: SCORE Namibia’s volunteer programs reached fifteen volunteers from different countries, working in seven regions around Namibia. SCORE Namibia established new partnerships with UK Sport and F.K. (Fredskorpset). During 2003 and 2004 SCORE’s programming was negatively affected by the conflict in neighboring Angola.

2004: The establishment of the national office in Windhoek and a new strategic programming direction saw significant positive developments in SCORE Namibia. The Namibian Volunteer Involvement Program (NAM-VIP) was launched. This programme was aligned to the Namibian Government and Ministry of Sport's revised Strategic Plan and was more community based than SCORE Namibia's original "Part-time Sports Workers" program. SCORE Namibia hosted the first annual Kicking AIDS Out Youth Sports Festival.

2005: In 2005 the Youth Sport Exchange Program (YSEP) was included in SCORE Namibia programming. Four new communities were added to the total of 10.

2006: A new partnership was established with Commonwealth Games Canada which saw two volunteers from Canada working in communities in Namibia. SCORE starts working in Swakopmund. A number of new staff positions were created and many new staff members hired, including a new Program Coordinator and Trainers. The first Namibian team was sent to Norway to participate in the Norway Cup. SCORE Namibia hosted the Zone VI Games and this greatly accelerated implementation of SCORE Namibia’s new system of programming.

2007: Windhoek, Namibia was selected to host of the third Next Step Conference, bringing youth together from all over Africa. SCORE Namibia was contracted to organise key aspects of the conference and co-ordinate volunteers.

2008: SCORE Namibia begins operating in the communities of Mariental and Omatjete.

2009: The SCORE Namibia staff complement is grown to include eight staff members, coming from four different countries, and supported by a seven member Board of Directors. SCORE Namibia, based at it's Windhoek National Office, now operates in 12 communities across 10 Regions of Namibia. In recognition of our dedication and hard work, SCORE Namibia won the National Volunteer of the Year Award at the Namibian National Sport Awards.

SCORE Zambia

2002: SCORE started in Zambia as an implementer of the Youth Sport Exchange Program. The Volunteers were at this time placed with host organizations. SCORE then was working with the National Sports Council of Zambia in managing the Youth Sports Exchange Programme.

2004: SCORE became partners with Zambia Open Community Schools, Norwegian Church Aid and Maramba Youth Centre in Livingstone. This year saw the start of SCORE implementing its own activities in Zambia.

2005: In May, Kicking Aids Out team from Livingstone participated in the Kicking Aids Out tournament in Johannesburg.  SCORE Zambia participated in the organising of the NEXT STEP Conference in Livingstone, during which volunteers from SCORE and other NGOs worked and coordinated well. A good example of the Youth Sports Exchange Programme. In June, SCORE was officially registered as an NGO in Zambia.  In November, the first Board meeting was held in Lusaka and Ms Besa Chibwe became the first Board Chair.  The Response Network in Southern Province partnered with SCORE and SCORE volunteers trains coaches from 40 villages in Kalomo. The Kicking Aids Out! league takes off in Kitwe.

2006: Kicking Aids Out! workshops take off in four provinces under the Sports In Churches Project. From July to December, SCORE partnered with Norwegian Church Aid and NIF on a project aimed at integrating sport in community schools.

2007: SCORE Zambia partnered with Norwegian Church Aid and Zambia Interfaith Network Group on HIV/Aids.

2008: SCORE Zambia entered into partnership with UNICEF under the International Inspirations Programme. The partnership aim to implement sports and recreation activities in four communities. SCORE Zambia entered into partnership with NIF.

2009: SCORE Zambia sent team to Cup Of Heroes finals held in Johannesburg, South Africa.