SUPER League outfit Petaling Jaya City FC hope to uplift the lives of underprivileged youths with a social programme called Jaguh RF.
Jaguh RF was officially unveiled yesterday with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between four partners: RYTHM Foundation (RF), MySkills Foundation, Petaling Jaya-based community group, MyPJ, and PJ City FC yesterday.
Jaguh RF is a social programme aimed at helping boys from low-income families who are less academically inclined, to excel through sports.
The programme will include a combination of activities aimed at the holistic development of trainees who are in their teens.
The main goal of the programme is for youth to use football to channel their energy and potential.
The first phase of the three-year programme will include 40 young boys around 13 years old from poor communities in Desa Mentari.
PJ City FC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said: "We want to contribute to society and maybe with this programme, we can get talent to play for PJ City one day.
"Football is a great tool to instil a lot of positive values. As a football club, we also have a role to play in society. This is a good way for us the help the underprivileged."
RF chairperson Datin Seri Umayal Eswaran said: "Sports is a potent driver for social change in many communities around the world. With Malaysia's love of football, we believe we can use it as a tool to build a trust base with the boys and work on behavioural change.
"It's a powerful tool to promote a sense of belonging, fair play and respect. For many of these boys, sports provide a safe space to escape the harsh realities of their lives, including poverty and social exclusion."