Chelsea defender Kadeisha Buchanan wants to give back to families like the one she grew up in. Born into a single-parent household, Buchanan says she witnessed “hardships and suffering” from a young age. Now, she is one of 14 players selected by Fifa for a new global social-impact programme.
Her Childhood and Motivation
Buchanan grew up in government housing in Toronto with six sisters. In her words, football was the escape, helping her avoid negative paths around her. She recalls days without water or electricity and a mother who “hustled” alone after moving from Jamaica with limited opportunities. That experience shaped her mission: supporting single mums who struggle to keep their kids in sport.
Foundation Launching in 2025
As part of the Fifa programme, each player receives initial funding of 25,000 USD along with expert guidance. Buchanan pitched a project focused on helping single-parent families afford football—including travel support, registration fees, kits and free national-team match tickets. The foundation is expected to launch in January, with the first camp set for April.
Why Her Mother Is Her Inspiration
Buchanan, the youngest of seven, says her mother always found a way to get her to training despite the financial strain. She remembers teammates attending matches that she could not afford, often pretending she had watched the games. Helping kids avoid that situation is one of her key goals.
Who Else Is Part of the Programme
Fifa’s initiative includes players from different continents. Khadija Shaw, Arsenal forward Alessia Russo, US defender Tierna Davidson and England goalkeeper Mary Earps are among those selected. Retired stars like Laura Georges are running their own leadership-based projects. Each participant is working on a different issue: ACL education, career transition, community rebuilding and more.
Global Vision for the Project
Led by Sarai Bareman and Jill Ellis, the programme aims to develop players into long-term community leaders. Ellis says the goal is sustainability, not one-time training, and hopes the scheme becomes a yearly programme with wider interest from players around the world.
Discussion about this post