Austrian international Christoph Baumgartner has won praise for his ongoing work in Uganda, where his education and clean water projects are transforming lives in the rural community of Kakule.
Since 2022, the RB Leipzig midfielder has been supporting women and children in the area through a vocational training centre and a primary school that now serves 80 pupils aged between four and nine.
The initiative, called the Baumi Junior School and Vocational Centre, was set up to give young mothers a second chance at education and employment.
“Many women in Uganda face tough choices,” Baumgartner explained. “Some drop out of school due to early pregnancies and lack of support. I wanted to give them a real opportunity to study and build a future for their children.”
The project started small but has grown quickly. What began as a training centre for young mothers now includes classrooms for their children and a broader community effort to improve living conditions in Kakule.
One of its biggest successes has been a fundraising drive to repair 12 local water wells, restoring clean running water to more than 35,000 people.
Baumgartner recently received the European Fair Play Diploma for his efforts, an award that honours individuals who use sport to promote positive social change. He says the recognition is secondary to the impact the work has had on Ugandans.
“This isn’t about publicity. It’s about making a real difference,” he said. “Our next goal is to build a permanent school and renovate more wells. Every donation helps.”
The midfielder’s teammates at Leipzig have also applauded his commitment.
Malian international Amadou Haidara praised him for his efforts, saying, “Baumi, what you’re doing is incredible. You don’t have to do this, but you’re helping people in Africa. That means a lot.”
