+44 (0)207 043 2232

+44 (0)207 043 2232

Donate
Home 5 News 5 Nourishing Hope: Supporting Children Through Nutrition and Rugby

Nourishing Hope: Supporting Children Through Nutrition and Rugby

The Atlas Foundation continues to make a powerful impact across the globe, using the game of rugby as a vehicle for change and food as a lifeline. Two of our partners, Lanna Rugby Club and the Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute (GWRI), are showing how nutrition and community engagement are transforming the lives of young people in some of the world’s most marginalised communities.

A Meal After Training

In Northern Thailand, Lanna Rugby Club is more than a sports team; it’s a community haven for children who face extreme poverty and social exclusion, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds. Despite Thailand’s economic growth, many young people remain locked in cycles of hardship without access to education, healthcare, or safe environments. Lanna Rugby, in partnership with the Kids Ark Foundation and Baan Dek Foundation, offers mentorship, life skills, and hope through rugby.
Last week, Lanna Rugby’s efforts were reinforced through a local initiative where two community partners provided lunch for the young athletes after their Saturday training session. It may seem simple, but for these children, many of whom live in poverty, a nutritious meal is so important. It supports their physical development, boosts concentration, and underscores the sense of care and community that Lanna Rugby strives to build.

Fueling Empowerment

Thousands of miles away in South Africa, the Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute (GWRI) is changing lives in township communities by providing young women with access to education, safety, and nutrition. In a country where gender-based violence and inequality are prevalent, GWRI is regularly supports 40,000 girls, offering a sanctuary, complete with accommodation, education, sport, sanitation, and three meals a day.

Through rugby, these young women are empowered, harnessing the values of integrity, hard work and respect. For some, this journey has led to elite levels of competition, including recent participation in the Junior Women Springbok trials. Yet, these young women’s achievements are even more special with a reflection of the hardship they have sustained in life.
But the reach of GWRI goes beyond the rugby pitch. As part of their commitment to community upliftment, GWRI has partnered with an orphanage in Hazyview, near Durban, which supports over 100 children. Players and staff have been assisting with feeding schemes and building maintenance, and over the coming months, the team at GWRI will be running several meal drives.

This is what Atlas’ mission is all about; using the power of rugby to improve the lives of children who have endured unimaginable challenges in disadvantaged, and often forgotten communities.

“It’s about more than fueling their bodies for sport, it’s about dignity, care, and creating an environment where these young women can truly thrive. When a player knows she will get a proper meal when she comes to training, she comes with more energy, more hope, and more determination to succeed.”
Jaco Coetzer

Gauteng Womens Rugby Institute

Sustaining Change Through Nutrition

Both Lanna Rugby and Gauteng Women’s Rugby Institute exemplify how The Atlas Foundation is using sport to break the cycles of poverty and vulnerability. By integrating regular nutrition into community rugby programs, Atlas and its partners ensure that children are not only inspired to chase dreams on the field but are also given the life skills and opportunity to succeed off it. Whether it’s a lunch after practice or a long-term feeding scheme, The Atlas Foundation’s commitment to nutrition is a cornerstone of its broader mission: to create lasting change for children suffering extreme hardships.

As these young athletes run, pass, and tackle their way through adversity, it’s clear that every meal shared is not just food, it’s fuel for hope.
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT LANNA RUGBY CLUB
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT GWRI

More News