Borneo International Football Academy

Borneo Football International Academy provides a healthy environment and quality assistance to children and youth in football training, health promotion and nutrition, school support and basic English education.

Borneo, or Kalimantan, as it is called in Indonesia, is a land in a state of conflict and transition. The native peoples are various Dayak subcultures, but 30% of the population is of Chinese descent and, in the last 20 years, the Indonesian government has undertaken an intense transmigration program, finacing the relocation of poor, landless families from Java, Madura, and Bali. Transmigrants make up 21% of the population in Central Kalimantan. Feelings of resentment between cultural groups can run very high and violence has, more than once, erupted as imigrants, gold mining, and lumber interestests encroach on native lands, with thousands of people killed.

Borneo Football International Academy (BFIA) is the vehicle of Borneo Football International Foundation’s integrated programme for assisting children and youth’s healthy development through football.

It has long been known that to address racial and cultural hatred, predjudice and conflict, you must work with young people. The young are still developing their understanding of the world and are most open to change. Also when young people can bring new ideas home to their families, often leading to a change in outlook among the older generation, too.

Borneo Football International Academy (BFIA) is the vehicle of Borneo Football International Foundation’s integrated programme for assisting children and youth’s healthy development through football. It provides a healthy environment and quality assistance to children and youth in football training, health promotion and nutrition, school support and basic English education. At the same time, the Academy promotes multicultural tolerance and integration

BFIA has currently reached the landmark of 100 students aged 7 to 18 from various backgrounds and religions. Amongst them there are Dayaks, Javanese, Balinese, Christians, Mulisms, Hindus and Buddhists.

Opening Ceremony / Yayasan Usaha Mulia – Dayak Dance Group — with Imanuel Yeremia, Yusvita Intarini, Fitri Moni Lestari, MuUtd, Rustiani Tambunan and Yeyen Andreyani Eka Rajaki.

Being the only academy of its kind in the region, BFIA has already drawn the attention of surrounding communities and local governement institutions who have, in turn, supported the launching of the first Borneo Football Cup 2015, a grand event held at the Palangkaraya Stadium during the month of August.

The Football Academy is funded and managed by Borneo Football International Foundation, a non-profit organization registered with the government of Central Kalimantan.