Main content

A Sporting Chance

How sport can change the lives of young people from some of the toughest backgrounds.

We all know that sport is great for our health - and if you鈥檙e talented it can bring you great riches. But this week we look at how sport is changing lives and giving hope to young people leading the toughest lives.

In Cape Town, South Africa, a British surfer noticed how kids from poor townships hardly ever went to the beach. So he started giving them free surfing lessons. Now hundreds go along each week to get 鈥渟urfing therapy鈥. Not only is surfing giving them a buzz, it's helping to improve their life chances.

In Afghanistan we meet the people who have brought skateboarding to the streets. As well as being an exciting challenge, it鈥檚 giving girls in particular a safe place to do sport and changing their outlook on life.

And in one of the more deprived parts of London we find out how horse riding - a sport normally associated with the elite - is now inspiring young people from all backgrounds.

Reporter/Producer: Richard Kenny

Release date:

Available now

24 minutes

People fixing the world on YouTube

Watch stories of people changing their world on the World Service English YouTube channel

Podcast