Tennis is more than a game. It’s opportunity.
We collect tennis equipment in the UK and Europe and put it into the hands of children and young people across Africa — using the platform of the sport to keep them focused, engaged, and growing.
- 30+ racquets shipped
- 3 countries served
- 6 partner venues
Live programme
Lagos · Dar es Salaam · Kigali
Coaches, courts and kids on three continents — running on donated kit.
Our story
It started with a few racquets and a flight to Dar.
In 2018, used racquets collected from members of CASSAC LTC in Croydon were carried down to the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club, into the hands of a wheelchair tennis team and other players who had been struggling for decent equipment. That single trip became the blueprint for everything we do now.
Read the full story
“Kit that's collecting dust in a UK garage can completely change what's possible on a court in Tanzania. It's the simplest equation we know.”
What we stand for
Vision, mission, and where we work.
The three pillars of the programme — captured from day one in the founding deck.
Vision
Tennis as a vehicle for social inclusion.
Open the platform of tennis to children from less-privileged backgrounds — kids with little to no access to social-climbing opportunities — and use the sport to keep them engaged, focused and growing.
Mission
Get kids off the street, onto the court.
Use tennis to give children a structured, positive alternative to potential vices — paired with mentorship, friendly competition, and pathways to keep developing.
Scope
Africa, starting where the network already runs.
Nigeria, Tanzania and Rwanda are our launch geographies, building on relationships our trustees already have on the ground. More countries follow as the model proves out.
How it works
From a donated racquet to a court in Africa.
A simple, repeatable model — collection drives in the UK and Europe, shipping to local partner venues, volunteer coaches on the ground.
- Step 01
Equipment collection drive
Members of partner UK and European clubs donate racquets, bags, balls and shoes that are still in usable condition.
- Step 02
Storage and consolidation
Donated kit is consolidated at our UK storage hub (provided by South Croydon Sports Club) ready for shipping.
- Step 03
Sign courier partnerships
We secure freight and courier partners willing to ship equipment to African destinations on charity terms.
- Step 04
Ship equipment to local venues
Crates land at our partner clubs in Lagos, Dar es Salaam and Kigali for distribution.
- Step 05
Venue sign-up with local clubs
MOUs are signed with each venue covering court access, scheduling and safeguarding.
Impact, in numbers
Small, measurable, growing.
Honest numbers from a young programme. We publish an annual impact report so every supporter sees exactly what changed.
- Racquets collected
- 30+
- Countries served
- 3
- Active partner venues
- 6
- Volunteer-led on-court
- 100%
From members across CASSAC LTC, Zurich and our partner clubs.
Nigeria, Tanzania and Rwanda — with more in conversation.
Tennis clubs and community courts across the UK and Africa.
Every coaching hour delivered by volunteer coaches we support with stipends.
Get involved
Three ways to back the mission.
Donate
Donate funds
Cover shipping, restringing, coach stipends and tournament costs. Every pound goes directly to the programme.
Equipment
Donate equipment
Racquets, bags, balls and shoes in good condition find a second life on a court in Lagos, Dar or Kigali.
Volunteer
Volunteer your time
Coach, organise tournaments, run UK collection drives, or partner with us as a club, school or company.
Trustees
Steered by people who know tennis and Africa.
Temitope Ayedun
Founding Trustee · MD/CEO, Planettalk Limited
London, UK
Founder of TennisIsLife and managing director of Planettalk Limited. Leads strategy, fundraising and overall direction of the charity.
Tobias Drogseth
Trustee · Business Development & Investor
Zurich, Switzerland
Business development professional, start-up investor and avid tennis player. Drives equipment collection drives across continental Europe — over thirty racquets, bags and shoes secured in Zurich alone.
Inger Njau
Trustee · IT Professional
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
IT professional and long-term Captain at DSM Gymkhana Club. Champions developmental tennis for the disabled and young people, and coordinates the Dar es Salaam programme.
Donate
Fund a racquet, change a child's week.
A donated racquet, a coach's stipend, a tube of balls — small contributions stack into real opportunity.