The Elena Sarra Memorial Tournament

The Elena Sarra Memorial Tournament honours Elena, our much-loved co-founder, who

sadly passed away in 2022.

Elena played a vital role in establishing Africa on the Ball, serving as a trustee from our

registration as a charity in 2013 until her untimely passing. She was passionate about

creating opportunities, challenging inequality and ensuring that girls and women had the

support they needed to reach their full potential.

The tournament celebrates Elena’s life, her values and the lasting impact she had on so

many people. It provides an opportunity not only to remember Elena, but also to continue

championing the causes she cared so deeply about.

As part of this year’s tournament, Kambo Health Initiative (KHI) joined us to engage with the

girls who play football, creating space for open and meaningful conversations about

menstrual health.

These conversations reinforced the importance of listening to young people and recognising

them as active partners in shaping the support they receive. By learning from their

experiences and working alongside organisations such as KHI, we can develop approaches

that reflect young people’s needs and create more opportunities for them to thrive.