Tackling addiction

Since 2016, the programme has reached 1,114 young people through various activities, including those organised by community coaches, who devise their own inclusive football projects, demonstrating their motivation to be advocates for positive change within their communities and often working with local partners.

In Indonesia, more than half a million people are living with HIV and Aids, according to UNAIDS data. More than half of cases are among gay, or bisexual men and transgender people, with 30% of cases made up of people who inject drugs. In 2016, it was estimated that 3200 children were newly infected with HIV due to mother-to-child transmission.

Premier Skills’ chooses partner organisations specific to the needs of the country or region and a key partner in Bandung is Rumah Cemara, an organisation which improves the quality of life of people with HIV and drug addictions through sports.

Eko Sutiadi worked for the organisation’s Sport for Development unit and signed up to train as a Premier Skills coach in Bandung. He believes sport has the potential to facilitate social change and create positive futures for disadvantaged young people.

Using football to address social and health issues really works because it is one of the most popular sports in Indonesia. It brings people together, regardless of age, gender or abilities. We can play without stigma and discrimination.

Drug use and solvent addiction is also a plight of many of the homeless or street children in Bandung. Eko has helped one young homeless addict to come off the streets, pursue a new life path and even travel to Scotland to take part in an international football match.

One of the children who made a full recovery and is off the streets is Acil. He is now clean from drugs and represented the Indonesian team in The Homeless World Cup 2016, in Glasgow. We’re very proud of this, it's proof that we can improve quality of life through sports. Of the 99 homeless children we’ve worked with, 95% are now off the streets, the others are on the road to recovery.