Shoot to Score for 500 Children in Northern Kenya

The end of June presented HODI with an invitation to Kazan Russia to make a presentation on the great work of using football for peace. We had a chance to showcase the great work of HODI and all that the support you have given has enabled us to accomplish.

Then came the suprise moment. Imagine walking up Saturday Morning and walkind down the road and everyone smiling at you and some waving the paper. This is what happened when our football program got a full page in the National Newspaper with a coverage of 1.7M readers. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the great support and motivation over the years. We will be indebted forever as HODI and all the children who haev come through the program. 

Before I sign off I would like to leave you with 3 pictures of the story! We would love to hear your feedback

Links:

• Website

This month we celebrate the HODI women who have championed for the cause of girls and boys to have safe spaces to play and just be children. It takes lots of courage to bring along a group of armature women to play in an International tournament the level of Global Goals World Cup. Your support created these champions.

Each team had to choose a uniform and ours seemed the most difficult choice but it is the abaya we wear every other day! Most people looked at us and questioned how on earth can you play in this long rob? Long sleeved, flowing to the floor and with a scarf on the head, this is the beauty of just being yourself. We felt comfortable but our comfort made most Kenyans worry and tag us the team from Somalia.

We had most fun at the Global Goals World and we played 3 games with every player from HODI getting a chance to get on the field and score for Gender Equality. We had a song which we celebrated with our fans and all those who came to cheer team HODI. In the end being recognised as the team that has achieved in GOAL 5 for Gender Equality and overall in the SDGs was a huge honour.

This was just the beginning of a long journey we had started together and if you had not supported HODI then we will not have made it to the Global Goals World Cup. I had a chance to travel to New York and was nominated at the UN to champion Goal Number 5 on Gender Equality not just in Marsabit but in Kenya. The small steps we have taken together to build a peace field and break the silence for the girls and women is being recognised. It is a huge honour and again all this would not have been possible were it not for your support. Personally, I am excited and looking forward to share more on the new role for me and for HODI as an organisation.  Below is the link https://twitter.com/UNDP/status/841748366119849986

Links:

• HODI website