The Elissia Carnavas Foundation creates access, structure and opportunity for girls in under-resourced communities across South Africa — beginning with football. We are not here to give. We are here to enable.

Founded by former Australian international footballer Elissia Carnavas, and rooted in her South African heritage, the Foundation was built on a lived truth: the same talent, without the same access, produces a different life.

Elissia's parents left South Africa during the apartheid era — leaving everything behind so their children could have a chance at diverse opportunities. Her own career, which took her to World Cups, an Olympic squad & overseas professional contracts existed because a pathway was open.

For most girls in South Africa, even today, that pathway is still met with barriers and challenges.

We fund the costs that keep girls off the field — registrations, league fees, the small administrative gap between a girl who wants to play and a girl who gets to play.

The talent is already there.

We remove the barrier.