Five years of the Chelsea FC International Development Centre at UWCSEA East
21 July 2021
By Activities Department
Since September 2017, UWCSEA East Campus has been home to the Chelsea FC International Development Centre Singapore (CFCIDCSG) offering first class facilities for the coaches to deliver a variety of football activities, community service projects and professional learning opportunities for UWCSEA staff and students, as well as the broader Singaporean community. Sharing similar passion and vision of providing equal opportunities to all areas of the community, CFCIDCSG and UWCSEA East have delivered a number of coaching sessions and projects at East campus for people with disabilities, underprivileged families and minority groups.
An example of how CFCIDCSG and UWCSEA East collaborate so effectively is with the CFCIDCSG Leadership Service. Throughout the course of a year, Grade 11 students are educated how to plan and deliver a coaching session, connect with a local community partner (4PM Bedok) and conduct a needs analysis ahead of inviting the Infants from 4PM Bedok to East campus.
On a weekly basis the Grade 11 students planned, delivered and reflected on their training sessions for the students of 4PM Bedok, with mentoring provided by CFCIDCSG coaching staff throughout, who shared their knowledge and experience of coaching. The CFCIDCSG coaches provide feedback and advice to the Grade 11's helping with their reflection, as they planned their next coaching sessions with the Infants of 4PM Bedok. The Grade 11’s develop skills of leadership, communication and project planning that are useful skills that can be transferred to different areas of their lives as they continue their learning journey.
The Sports and Activities programme at East campus is undoubtedly an area of passion for all UWCSEA East students. CFCIDCSG coaches have developed a comprehensive football programme for boys and girls from 4–19 years old, providing in-season training for Dragons teams as well as year-round training programmes for the most passionate footballers on campus.
In the four years of the partnership the Infant and Primary participation has increased, with a keen interest shared by both male and female student-athletes. Moving through into the Middle and High School, the quality of footballers has increased, evidenced in Dragons teams winning the SEASAC Girls Division 1 championship as well the girls and boys teams winning at the BISP 7’s tournament. By building a healthy foundation and enthusiasm for football at the Infant and Primary School level, there will be long term positive participation in football in the years to come at East Campus.
As the partnership enters its fifth year both UWCSEA East and Chelsea FC IDC Singapore are determined to use football as a force for good, encouraging more students to actively participate as well as growing the existing service projects with community groups like 4PM Bedok. There will be a particular drive to provide equal opportunities for everyone who wants to get involved, as CFCIDCSG and UWCSEA East aim to motivate, educate and inspire the next generation of footballers.