HAKI

Building the confidence and wellbeing of marginalised young men through sport.

A team of young people in Antwerp are utilising their connection to the national boxing sphere in Belgium to empower their peers.

HAKI is a team of young people actively engaged in the sports scene in Antwerp. They joined Young Cities to address the lack of empowerment opportunities that exist for boys and young men in their community, leading them to self-destructive cycles that affect their productivity, prospects for the future, and mental and emotional wellbeing.

With the support of Young Cities, this group offered a mentorship programme to 10-14 year old boys in their neighbourhood, Borgerhout. The programme included kick boxing training and dialogue sessions with influential youth role models who shared their stories and helped create a safe space for the boys to connect, express themselves and be inspired to forge positive paths for their future.