Increasing forest cover through play in Nairobi

Just to begin with!!

The preparation and planning of the 5th edition of Kick and Conserve Tournament that will take palce on 30th March is underway with a very inspiring meeting involving several teachers showing a keen interest to participate in the tournament. The theme will be “The Importance of Soil to Life”, highlighting the role soil plays in food production & the impact on people’s health, and examining how the demands on the environment and climate change are threating soil quality, focusing on sub- Saharan Africa.

Kick and Conserve Tournaments are tailored to provide environmental awareness.  We stress the fragility of our environment, the importance of its conservation and the roles we all can play as environmental stewards. The program involves Environmental Discussion Sessions, Environmental Games and Fair Play (football). For a team to emerge winners, they must take part in each activity and gain enough points to move on

Community Impact Program has expanded with 2 additional vital programs in Mukuru Slums.

What other plans do you have for our children when the schools are closed? What will they be doing at home?

These were some of the question that teachers and parents were asking our community coaches when the schools were about to go to recess, and as an organization, we went to the drawing board to find out what we can do to keep our participants busy and healthy over the holidays.

We developed two additional programs; Wasichana Juu/Girls Up, a female only sport for development program and Green-Kenya Youth league, a football league for Under 13-year old boys and girls.  We meet every Saturday and Sunday in the field used for our Community Impact Program.  This field has now become a beehive of activity seven days a week, with Green-Kenya leading the way to healthier children and better communities.

 Youth league

The league has become one of the most attractive leagues in the Mukuru Kwa Njenga community.  With just five weeks of play, all the teams are working hard to maintain the top spot, top scorer, best players and best coaches. The league has attracted 8 teams, 7 boys and 1 girls’ team with a total of 159 young players, 133 are boys with 84% and 26 girls which is 16 %.  Green-Kenya youth leaders are the match officials and will identify the best players in the league.

With only one girls’ team registered, we invited them to join the boys’ league.  They are definitely holding their own with 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses.  We hope that these amazing results will attract more girls to come out and join our youth league in the future.

We believe that every girl deserves a chance to realize her full potential. Not just because she deserves to thrive, but because when she succeeds so does her family, her friends, her community, and the world. Today, in too many moments, in too many parts of the world, there aren't opportunities for women and girls to learn, contribute, and thrive.  

Wasichana Juu is female only program, based on the Coaches Across Continents model of development through sport. This unique forum provides an opportunity for girls (9 – 19 years), living in the poorest neighborhoods of Nairobi to participate in a guided open dialogue of health (physical, sexual, psychological), safety (personal, environmental) and leadership (effective leaders, inclusivity, public speaking) while engaging them in physical activity. Studies show that exercise in children helps them focus better, retain more information, improve sleep and build self-confidence.