How Kenyan nonprofit is using sports to transform lives of underprivileged children
Nestled in the heart of Kisii, a municipality in southwestern Kenya, Football Without Borders Kenya (FWBK), a non-profit organisation, is significantly impacting underprivileged children through sports-based programmes.
The organisation aims to foster a sense of community among children while imparting valuable skills that empower them to support themselves and contribute to their communities. Osoya George, the Executive Director of FWBK, highlighted the organisation's multifaceted approach.
"We've implemented initiatives like self-sustainable agriculture, enabling children to finance their education by selling their produce," George mentioned to GSW in an interview.
He explained that the initiative not only teaches children valuable agricultural skills but also empowers them to support themselves and contribute to their communities.
But FWBK's mission doesn't stop at agriculture. The organisation also facilitates volunteer exchange programmes to nurture talents and provide avenues for participants to join professional clubs in the country.
"Many people underestimate the impact of sports on communities. It's a platform for acquiring knowledge and bringing it back to uplift communities. Participants become self-reliant; they don't resort to child labour," George emphasised.
"We currently have four children under 16 who will undergo trials for the national team, a significant achievement for our organisation," he added.
Beyond sports, FWBK partners with local schools to empower youth through education programmes, he disclosed.
Despite their non-reliance on government support, George urged authorities to back nonprofit organisations like FWBK to enhance community education and share knowledge globally.
"I think what affects us in Kenya affects everybody around Africa. We just request that the government can come in and provide maybe online discussions or give us a room to travel around the world to share,” he concluded.
Watch this interview:
