Children in Rwanda have been filmed chanting 'No Scotland, No Party' while wearing full Scotland kits during a World Cup watch party, thanks to a grassroots football academy funded by a Scottish charity. The Karongi Football Academy, based in Rubengera, Western Rwanda, is a pioneering project founded and funded by the registered charity Scottish Football for Rwanda. Launched in October 2025, the academy serves 280 children aged 8 to 18 and features the first and only dedicated girls' football academy in the country.
Academy Links to Scotland
The academy is funded entirely through the efforts of Scots youth players and coaches who travel to Rwanda on trips organised by the charity. Players and staff at the academy were filmed chanting Scotland songs on the day of Scotland's second Group C match against Morocco. Charity CEO Carey McEvoy said: 'Obviously the Academy has incredibly strong links to Scotland, so the World Cup has been a great opportunity to show that support.'
Hibs Women midfielder Ellis Notley and Livingston FC Women's coach Michael Wilson were in attendance as the party took place after a training session for the academy, which was set up in October at the request of the Rwandan FA. Carey added: 'The academy is literally changing lives and a community, from the employed coaches to feeding 50 of the kids out of malnutrition. It is fully funded by Scottish youth football - by the kids and coaches who go on our trips to Rwanda, so it's a great chance for the Rwandan kids to cheer on their adopted nation.'
Donated Kits and Equipment
At the party, 200 of the kids wore Scotland polos and zip tops donated by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). The match, which Scotland lost 1-0, took place too late for the younger kids, but the coaches and older players joined the Scottish group to watch the game unfold. Carey added: 'Thanks to the generosity of volunteers and supporters, the academy is already redefining what youth football looks like in Rwanda. Every player now owns a pair of football boots - a significant step forward in a country where many children traditionally play barefoot or in crocs. Each child also has their own football, rather than sharing one or two between an entire squad, allowing for structured training sessions rather than informal matches.'
Portable floodlights have also been introduced, a crucial development in a country where darkness falls at 6pm all year round. Small-sided games, appropriate goals and modern coaching practices - commonplace in Scotland - are being implemented for the first time in the region. The charity's efforts highlight the transformative impact of grassroots sports initiatives in underprivileged communities.
