NEW YORK, New York — On September 23rd Roger Federer played his last match of professional tennis to a sell-out and cheering crowd. The record-breaking champion accrued 20 major slams over his 23-year career, becoming the sport’s most recognizable figure before leaving tennis at age 41. Even with his groundbreaking athletic achievements, his most significant contributions have been off the court through the work of his “The Roger Federer Foundation.”
Educational Projects
Based in Switzerland, the organization aims to provide children in Africa with education equipment and funds, aiming to boost low rates of schooling in six countries. The Roger Federer Foundation limits its focus to a few long-term educational projects, aiming to concentrate its resources and avoid high administrative costs. Throughout its nearly 20-year existence the group, managed by Federer himself, has helped nearly 2 million children and over 9,000 primary schools.
Although measuring the success of the Roger Federer Foundation is difficult within a short time frame, his organization has seen marked improvements in access to education and teacher training. The nonprofit’s 2021 annual report found that parents of the supported children were more satisfied with their children’s education, while teachers felt they could better understand their student’s needs. The program also exhibited a high degree of sustainability, with 80% of its teacher funds still circulating three years after its implementation.
The organization has also proven adept at responding to crises and adapting to a continuously changing environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federer foundation spent over $1 million to feed 64,000 people within the regions they worked in. When cyclone Idai hit Malawi in 2019, Federer transformed the educational centers he had built into evacuation camps, ATP Tour reports. Despite being an organization that focuses strongly on long-term goals, it remained capable of assisting short-term needs.
Africa’s Current Struggles
This is particularly important given the growing crises which threaten livelihoods and development on the continent. Droughts have quadrupled over the last 50 years in sub-Saharan Africa, together with a similarly alarming slew of storms and floods. These natural disasters damage an already fragile agricultural sector while forcing policymakers to focus on putting out fires rather than long-term growth.
Adding to this, post-pandemic economic pressures and an increased reliance on imports have led to skyrocketing inflation, making foreign goods harder to come across and reducing the average standard of living. Poor harvests and a 9.5 million ton deficit in cereals have necessitated more purchases of foreign grain, hurting local producers while increasing food prices. This, combined with supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic, has raised the cost of food by an average of 24% from 2020 to 2022.
Given higher prices and importation difficulties, the work of the Roger Federer Foundation is all the more vital. In April 2022 Federer donated 3,000 tablets to the Malawian government, aiming to provide much-needed resources to educators and children. A valuable investment in education and productivity, the tablets are a small albeit important resource at a time when outside goods are particularly hard to come by.
Match for Africa
The tennis icon also worked to use his fame and resources in the fight against poverty. Since 2010, Federer has organized six “Match for Africa” events aimed at fundraising for the Roger Federer Foundation, partnering with a host of other tennis players and celebrities. His most recent exhibition match in Cape Cod, South Africa featuring Rafael Nadal, Trevor Noah and Bill Gates raised over $3.5 million, while other matches have raised between $1 million and $2.5 million.
Thus, his tennis career may have come to a close, but his dedication to combating poverty in Africa certainly has not. Although the successes he has had can be measured in points won, championships conquered and rivals beaten, victories against poverty are more elusive and harder to measure. His talent and skill as a tennis player will never be forgotten, but his contributions through the Roger Federer Foundation live on.
– Samuel Bowles
Photo: Flickr