Lifesong Kenya is using the beautiful game to teach life skills, promote reading, and nurture respect in young boys. Discover how we are using sports for development to nurture young leaders in the heart of Maasai land.
Using Sports for Development to Shape Young Leaders
Have you ever noticed how football seems to speak every language? Football is a universal passion and language. Here at Lifesong Kenya, we’re harnessing that passion to nurture young leaders in Osupuko Village. We’re not just playing a game of football; we’re building a community and a movement.
Our weekend after-school program is where all the magic happens. Our amazing staff, dedicated volunteers and boys from our Halfway House cycle to Osupuko. Football unites our amazing staff, dedicated volunteers, and a bunch of enthusiastic boys. All united by the love of football and using sports for development. It is more than just drills, kicking a ball and scoring a goal, though. We use football as a springboard for so much more.
Think about it: every kick of the ball, every pass, every goal, is an opportunity for us to teach valuable lessons. We use football to teach teamwork and essential life skills that will help these boys to thrive. And yes, we even weave in reading and writing – because a strong mind goes hand-in-hand with a strong kick!
More than a game of football
But here’s the heart of it and our main aim of using sports for development. We are on a mission to nurture these boys into exceptional young men. As a result, we weave empathy, love, care, integrity and responsibility into our football. We talk about what it means to be a man who keeps his word and take initiative. We explore what it means to treat everyone with honor, dignity, and respect, especially women and girls. That is the main agenda and intention behind every single kick of the ball on the field.
While winning matches is important, it is not just about winning games. Instead, football is about winning in life. It is about making and maintaining life long friendships with each other. It is about equipping these boys with the tools they need to build a better future for themselves and their community. It is about teaching them to be responsible, compassionate, and respectful leaders.
So far, over 50 boys from Osupuko Village have joined our football team. We engage the boys in football friendly matches as we continue building their football skills. Apart from football, we are currently paying school fees for 10 of the boys. Our plan is to sponsor the whole team so the boys don’t miss school due to lack of school fees. The other things that we take care of are school uniform, stationery and shoes.
So, the next time you watch a game of football, remember what’s happening in Osupuko Village. As you cheer your favourite football club in the English Premier League or Laliga, remember the boys of Lifesong Kenya. Every kick of the ball is a step towards a brighter future. And that is something worth cheering for!
