Shoot to Score for 500 Children in Northern Kenya

HODI has been trying to engage girls for a long time and this year 2012
is the greatest of them all. Over 2,000 girls have been engaged through the
HODI Girls Champion Initiative and the local community including the mothers of
the girls are accepting that girls too can play football.

Over 10 schools have been involved in the school training program with
20 HODI coaches offering training in football and life skills. We made history
by engaging the girls and female teachers in the trainings and slowly things
changed with more girls coming on board each day.

In order to select a team to represent HODI in East Africa tournament,
30 girls were selected and 15 boys. The teams will be traveling to Moshi
Tanzania to participate in a tournament and what is important is the fact that
the HODI teams are led by girl’s coaches and team leaders for the first time
ever. Girls are coaching fellow girls and taking up leadership responsibilities
within the organization. We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your
continued support as we continue championing the rights of girls and women to
take up leadership.

“What I have learn in HODI are life lessons and I want to impart that
on other girls in the teams I coach” Dirre one of the girls coaches.

Links:

• HODI official website

There were times it was almost illegal to have girls being seen outside home or school. The place of girls is in the kitchen immediately after completing primary school. Through the balls purchased through your generous contribution; girls in Marsabit can not only be seen outside but they are able to kick the ball and play football with a passion. January 14 - 15 was a life changing event, as one girl put it....."I never expected to be able to play outside in the main Marsabit Stadium; today is a great experience for me and other girls in future".

HODI Girls Championship was one of its kind, the first ever to be held for girls only. More than 16 teams had initially registered with 2 of them pulling out at the last minute due to threats and fear. 12 of the teams went on to play the football which was accompanied by football skills and also life skills. They learnt from basics of ball shooting; passing; dribbling among other skills. While in life skills it was surely a moment that many will miss as it came so close to the heart of many participating girls ranging from teen pregnancies;  Forced Child Marriages; performance in schools; personal hygiene; sexual matters; menstruation among many more. The girls were shy in the beginning but slowly they opened up, asking so many questions and giving even answers to their peers.

The day ended with a game between the coaches for the girls and HODI organising team; where they saw even as adults we are not perfect in our game of football but in whatever we do we have to give our best. We hope to hold another similar tournament with more teams participating the issue of teams transportation; meals and accommodation being the only hinderance. But with all your support i know we can reach more girls and break more barriers and together we will help break silence on issues affecting girls on Marsabit.

Links:

• Take a moment to visit our site! Very inspiring indeed!