GlobalGiving.org: Use soccer as a tool to educate 2500 Kibera youths

December 2011 Update on Kibera Mpira Mtaani

Kirsty McLullich — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:03:39 GMT

Receiving equipment for exams

The last few months have been very busy for Kibera Mpira Mtaani in terms of both football and education. The after school education program tutored around sixty students for their KCPE (Kenya Certificate of Primary Education) exams which are sat at the end of their eighth year of primary education. These are the arguably the most important exams that students in Kenya will sit as they determine whether or not they will be offered a place at secondary school and which level of school they will go to - National, Provincial, District. Before the exams started Vision Africa and local British school The Banda provided students with the clipboards and geometry sets that are required to sit the exams. Within a week of the exams being finished, students were encouraged to complete forms for a number of scholarship programs in preparation for the exam results being released at the end of December. Very few parents in Kibera can afford to pay secondary school fees so scholarships and individual sponsors provide a lifeline for bright students. The education program supports over three hundred students on a daily basis. These range from the young ones who attend ECD (Early Childhood Development) classes through to those in secondary school. Kibera Mpira Mtaani's resource centre provides a safe place for children to do their homework and volunteer tutors are on hand to help answer any questions and set additional assignments. With the school year drawing to a close and exams finished, it was time for the annual Informal Schools Football Tournament to be held. The vast majority of schools in slums like Kibera are not supported by the government and can't afford to compete in the annual sports competitions run by the government. Kibera Mpira Mtaani's tournament gives schools the opportunity to come together, meet each other, develop their talents and have fun. Each school that competes is allowed to enter two teams, one for boys and one for girls. Rounds are played over a number of days and then the finals are held at a colourful event at the end. This year, the tournament had a special significance as it was funded thanks to a donation of money raised by some young children in the UK. Wescott Infant School in Wokingham raised around 650 by holding a "Concert for Kenya" evening at their school. This allowed Kibera Mpira Mtaani to hire pitches, pay for referees and cover other costs involved in the tournament. Teams that took part in this year's tournament were up against rain and mud as well as each other. On finals day, the pitch was like a mudbath but the teams' spirits were high and their teachers were on hand to encourage them. The players received a special visit from Francis Ouma of the Kenya Premier League team Sofapaka. Francis was representing a group called "Green Card Mtaani" which aims to teach young football players from deprived areas that they should say no to crime and drugs. He told the finalists "Football is not just about a talent, it's your life". MC Gigi Spice who helped keep the audience entertained and provided commentary for the event announced "even if there is no food on the table, don't put a gun on your waist". There was more advice for finalists as they participated in peer counselling in breaks between matches. A number of teenage boys and girls who have studied at Kibera Mpira Mtaani have undergone training in peer counselling thanks to CARE Kenya who also supported the finals event with some awards and refreshments for the teams. Some of the young counsellors were invited to talk to the footballers about challenges in life and how to make good decisions. It was great to see these youths giving back to their community having benefited from Kibera Mpira Mtaani's resource centre. Winners on the day were Spurgeons Academy who took the top spot in both the boys and girls categories. However, it could be argued that everyone who participated was a winner as they all seemed to enjoy the event. Priscah who played in the girls final told us "The best thing about the tournament was that I have been communicating with other schools, seeing how the other teams are playing and what their schools are doing and how we can make friends with them." Thanks to everyone who has supported Kibera Mpira Mtaani in 2011 and we look forward to sharing more of their success stories in 2012.

Peer Counselling

Finals match

In Their Words...

Kirsty McLullich — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 07:39:54 GMT

Kibera Mpira Mtaani continues to go from strength to strength in terms of education and soccer. GlobalGiving has been collecting stories from the local community about a wide variety of organisations and events. Below you can find links to some of the 54 stories that have been written about Mpira Mtaani by people in the community of Kibera. Rather than us tell you what's going on and the impact it's having....we thought it best to hear it in their words

http://www.globalgiving.org/stories/9895

http://www.globalgiving.org/stories/13750

(http://www.globalgiving.org/stories/10611)

(http://www.globalgiving.org/stories/11104)

We are also trying to give children and youths in Kibera a stronger voice. A creative writing class takes place every Sunday at Kibera Mpira Mtaani to help children express themselves. Another organisation is in the process of setting up classes where children will be trained how to used computers and how to blog so that they can share stories of what is happening within their community.

As well as these activities, the daily after-school tuition program continues to grow and proves itself to be invaluable to the children in the local area around Kibera Mpira Mtaani's resource centre.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this project through GlobalGiving. Together we can help make a difference to the lives of children in Kibera.

Success in sports and education

Kirsty McLullich — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:36:11 GMT

Sunday Creative Writing Classes

Kibera Mpira Mtaani had been seeing success in both Sports Development and Education programs in recent months.

April saw the launch of their annual Packard Family Cup Football Tournament which preached “Amani Lazima” (Peace a Must). The committee felt that it was vital to start preaching peace at this time as the country prepares for an election in August 2012. Peer counselors, mentors and counselors can use Kibera Mpira Mtaani’s football tournaments as a forum to work with up to 2,500 children and youths during the school holidays. This year’s tournament was a great event with 136 teams competing from under 10s to under16s and ladies. See below for a link to an article about the final day event.

In terms of education, Kibera Mpira Mtaani is going from strength to strength. They currently have around 400 students registered for after-school classes. These students come Monday to Friday at a time allotted for their school year group. Over the past two years, these classes have expanded to include secondary school students as well as primary. Under the supervision of volunteer teachers, the first priority is always to do homework that has been assigned at school during the day. After that, additional tuition and assignments are provided. This year, the program has welcomed two students from University of Nairobi who volunteer time to help young students with their work.

This program has no official budget and relies on donations of books and stationery to keep it going. Parents of students have been asked to contribute a small amount each month to help with the ongoing costs such as paraffin for lamps, soap for keeping the classrooms clean etc but no child is turned away if their parents or guardians cannot contribute.

As well as the academic studies, Kibera Mpira Mtaani aims to create well-rounded individuals by offering opportunities to explore various talents. Once again, this is done through volunteers who run classes in dancing, creative writing etc. At a recent session in the creative writing class, students were asked to write a few lines about their home, Kibera. These were chosen as the best three and the reward (as well as a piece of chocolate!) was the promise that their work would be published online...

KIBERA
Oh wow. Kibera is a very big shiny state where most people prefer to live.

Kibera is the most beautiful slum in Africa that is found in Kenya and people live there.

Kibera is a very big shiny place and I love living there.

(Nelson Lusuli)

KIBERA

An I can see dreams coming true in Kibera.

Wonderful place to stay and enjoy.

I can see future presidents in Kibera.

I love my hometown and nobody will change my mind.

My ugali, a big lovely and cool place.

Kibera is a rich place someone can stay.

I wonder, visitors coming to my hometown.

I love it how it is.

Passion juice following in Kibera.

Never judge a book by its cover.

(Ndelia Akinyi)

KIBERA

Kibera is my homestead.

The perfect place with lovely people which live peacefully.

This beautiful city has no troubles because we do not trouble troubles,

And that is why I will never wish to abandon this place but struggle to overcome troubles.

(Jesse Komo)

Thank you to those who have contributed to help Kibera Mpira Mtaani in their work. It really does make a difference to children in Kibera.

Wednesday June 15^th is BONUS DAY on GlobalGiving. Every donation received by this project will be matched at 30% by our dear friends at GlobalGiving. Please spread the word to your friends, family and co-workers and help us make the most of this very generous offer.

Together we can create brighter futures!

Safe place to do homework

Links:

After School Success in Kibera

Kirsty McLullich — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 09:37:22 GMT

In the Library

Kibera Mpira Mtaani had a busy start to the year thanks to the success of their education program.

In November 2010, a group of around forty students from Kibera joined their peers throughout the country and sat their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams marking the end of their time at primary school. Having studied after school at Kibera Mpira Mtaani’s resource centre with the support of the volunteer teachers, expectations were high for this group and they didn’t disappoint!

In the results announced at the end of December, it transpired that the top student from Kibera Mpira Mtaani scored 398 out of 500 and it has just been announced that she has secured a place at one of the top national schools, Alliance Girls. Thanks to the hard work of the KiMMta committee she has also been offered sponsorship by the Equity Bank foundation.

In fact more than thirty of Kibera Mpira Mtaani’s students have been offered sponsorship through a number of organisations and are now in secondary school. This is something that many of them could only dream of and would not have happened without the support from Kibera Mpira Mtaani and the organisations it has worked with over the past few weeks.

Below are some comments from some of the students who took advantage of KiMMta’s after school tuition program. Without exception, each one said that they would not have scored the mark they did if they had not been supported by KiMMta.

1. Valerie, Aged 13, St. Michaels Holy Unity Academy (Informal), KCPE mark 361

What did Kibera Mpira Mtaani provide to help you?

Books, and after school I came for tuition. What we were taught in school we came and revised again.

What difference did the project make to you?

At school sometimes the teacher teaches very fast and you’re ashamed to ask a question. Here you can ask a question.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’m trying to get help to get to a good secondary school so that in Form 4 I can pass. I want to be a doctor.

Any other comments about the project or your teachers here?

Teachers here teach really well and give us time to read and ask questions.

2. Molly, Aged 16, St. Michaels Holy Unity Academy (Informal), KCPE mark 314

What did Kibera Mpira Mtaani provide to help you?

They taught me. When I came here I was weak in learning but the day I came I started to improve.

What difference did the project make to you?

They kept me busy teaching in class and giving me assignments. They gave us time to ask questions.

What are your hopes for the future?

I want to go to secondary school then university and become a nurse.

Any other comments about the project or your teachers here?

I want to appreciate the teachers for the work they have done for us.

3. Felix, Aged 16, St. Michaels Holy Unity Academy (Informal), KCPE mark 363

What did Kibera Mpira Mtaani provide to help you?

Providing books, teachers, helping us in such areas that we don’t know.

What difference did the project make to you?

Before I came here I couldn’t get some books. In school if you lose one book in one class you will not be given any in the following class (year). Some revision books are not found in school and they’re better than course books.

When we’re bored we can come and watch football or they can take us to the grounds and we can play football. They can even take us to camps.

What are your hopes for the future?

Through KiMMta I’ve got sponsorship from Equity Bank and they’ll find a school for me. I want to go to university to get a law degree.

Any other comments about the project or your teachers here?

KiMMta has been helping us, teaching us about bible studies, letting us meet other children. The number of children is increasing (due to the good reputation and performance of the students) so I would urge you to get another room so there is space for all the children.

As well as tuition in academic subjects, Kibera Mpira Mtaani aims to develop children and youths in other ways. A number of older students have been trained in peer counselling through partnership with CARE Kenya and will help counsel youths at football tournaments in the future. Classes have also started in dance, music, art and film-making and this week a poetry and creative writing class was launched. None of these subjects is covered in the school syllabus which concentrates on purely academic subjects.

We would like to thank those who have supported this project through GlobalGiving and encourage you to share this update with your friends, family and colleagues so that we can ensure another group of children from Kibera face brighter futures.

Proud Teacher and Students

Ending the year on a high

Kirsty McLullich — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:16:25 GMT

Teacher celebrates with football team

It has been a busy few months for Kibera Mpira Mtaani on both the sports and education front.

At the end of October, the organisation held its third football tournament for the informal schools in Kibera. Informal schools are those not registered with the government and are often set up through churches or individuals. In general, they are unable to participate in government activities such as sports and music festivals. Kibera Mpira Mtaani aims to fill that gap by ensuring that schools in Kibera have the opportunity to explore their talents and meet with other schools as they feel this is important in trying to develop children in a positive way.

The tournament ran for one week and involved sixteen different schools representing all of the thirteen villages in Kibera. Schools were allowed to put forward a girls team and a boys team. At the end of the week, the finals day was held to determine third and fourth places as well as the champions. On this day, KMM teamed up with SAPTA and students from all the schools that were participating or spectating were given the opportunity to be counselled on HIV/AIDS issues. Another local group which supported the event was the local radio station, Pamoja FM, who sent a team to cover the event including a live on-air interview with KMM chairman Vincent Kegode.

The matches were tightly contested and the crowd enjoyed every moment of it. Once or twice the pitch filled up as students joined their team to celebrate a goal being scored. The screams of enjoyment and excitement told us how important this tournament is to schools who participate. Teachers on the sidelines shouted encouragement to players on the pitch and had words of support for the teams as they left the pitch at half time or the end of the match.

In addition to the football, the committee and its network of volunteers have been busy opening a new resource centre to allow them to support children in both primary and secondary education. Kibera Mpira Mtaani’s after school tuition program has been a great success with large numbers of children turning up every day to make use of their safe study space to do homework and support from volunteer teachers. This year they had 40 “candidates” – these are students in their eighth and final year of primary education who are sitting exams to determine whether or not they will qualify for a place in secondary school. It is hoped that the extra tuition KMM’s students receive will help candidates with their academic performance. With additional space now available thanks to the new resource centre, 35 secondary school students are now making use of the study space.

Our thanks go to all Global Giving donors who have supported this program which is making a really big difference to the lives of children in Kibera.

Art class in the new resource centre

Holiday Activities in Kibera

Kirsty McLullich — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:34:29 GMT

Chairman with TV donated for Income Generation

The past 3 months have been busy for the team at Kibera Mpira Mtaani. The organisation has gone from strength to strength and their education program in particular has made great steps forward with a new resource centre being built. This will allow them to provide study space for students who have joined secondary school after being part of the organisation’s after-school tuition program.

In the month of August, schools in Kenya are closed so this is usually the time when the annual “Manchester for Kibera” tournament is hosted by Kibera Mpira Mtaani. Unfortunately, the funding was not available for the tournament this year but the committee resolved to provide activities for the children who use the resource centre. Working with a local church, sponsorship was found to send a group of children to a Christian holiday camp. This gave the children an opportunity to spend a week outside of Kibera taking part in planned activities. A great time was had by all who attended and the chairman of Kibera Mpira Mtaani reported that the children came back refreshed and strong.

Thanks to teachers from two international schools in Nairobi, another group of children enjoyed a day out at the National museum. A third group was taken to the Special Olympics which were held in the Nyayo National Stadium. After each of these outings, the children were encouraged to write about their experiences.

Through Twitter, a local volunteer came forward and offered to start up art classes for some children at the centre. Working with a group of around 15 to 20 children it is hoped that he can help them develop their talents and explore their creativity. As art does not appear in the Kenyan primary school curriculum there are very few opportunities for these talents to be explored so we hope the art classes at Kibera Mpira Mtaani will be a great success. Another local group is working with a small number of children from the centre to train them in photography and film-making. Again, this is a fantastic opportunity for the children and could possibly lead to a way to earn a living when they leave school.

In terms of football, Kibera Mpira Mtaani has been working with CARE Kenya to help facilitate a tournament and is also planning to host its annual tournament for informal schools which is due to take place in October. Funds permitting, this will allow 16 schools in Kibera to put forward a boys team and a girls team to compete for awards such as books and sports equipment. The informal schools are those not funded by the government and cannot generally afford to take part in government run sporting activities. Kibera Mpira Mtaani’s tournament offers a unique opportunity for students from informal schools to show off their talents. An additional benefit is that players move among the 13 villages of Kibera to play in matches and this allows them to make new friends and break down barriers between villages.

At the start of the World Cup, Kibera Mpira Mtaani launched its first income generating activity. Through a grant, a satellite dish was installed and local residents can pay a small fee to watch games from the English Premier League, European Champions League and various other events. It is hoped that once this enterprise has built up it will allow the organisation to make a contribution towards its running costs.

In the meantime, the project relies on donations to continue with the great work it is doing in the community. Our thanks go to everyone who has contributed to this project through Global Giving and we hope you feel part of something great that is happening in Kibera and will spread the word so we can involve more people and give Kibera Mpira Mtaani as much support as possible. On behalf of the Kibera Mpira Mtaani committee....asanteni sana (thank you very much!)

Children drawing in the new resource centre

Links:

Video about 2009 Informal Schools Tournament

Successful Tournament Ends on a High

Kirsty McLullich — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:31:17 GMT

Under 16s Winning Team

Anticipation, tension and excitement filled the air at Woodley Stadium in Nairobi on Saturday 29th May. This was the day that the John Packard Family Cup football tournament reached its climax with the final matches being played to decide the winners of each category.

The tournament was launched in March and ran throughout the school holidays in April, giving over 2,000 children and youths a focus for the time they were out of school. Partnership with CARE Kenya meant that the children were also given some health education and mentoring while they weren’t on the pitch. Over 450 matches were played throughout the tournament in which 119 teams competed.

On finals day there were 5 key matches, 3 of which went to the wire with penalty shoot-outs being played to determine the winning team. The results were as follows:

Under 10s Mixed SHOFCO Juniors 1 – 0 Little Rocks Under 12 Boys Sprinting Juniors 0 – 0 Catalans (Sprinting Juniors won 3-2 on penalties) Under 14 Boys SHOFCO 1 – 1 Gladiators (Gladiators won 7-6 on penalties) Under 15 Girls Christ Ambassadors 1 – 1 CFK (Christ Ambassadors won 3-2 on penalties) Under 16 Boys Young Super Talents 2 – 0 Sadili

As the penalties were taken and winners celebrated, the sound of the vuvuzela could be heard around the stadium, adding to the occasion and to the World Cup fever which is starting to spread throughout Kenya and the continent.

The theme for the tournament was “Education and Sports”, reinforcing the work that Kibera Mpira Mtaani is doing to improve the education of children in the local community. The video featured here shows some of these children explaining why education is important to them. Please take a few minutes to watch this and see the great work that Kibera Mpira Mtaani is doing in this area. This message was made loud and clear by MC GG Spice who kept the crowd amused and informed at the finals event and praised Kibera Mpira Mtaani and Vision Africa for the work they have been doing in Kibera.

Also present at the event were journalists from the local radio station PamojaFM. This station has been very supportive of Kibera Mpira Mtaani and decided to interview the coach of the winning Under 16s team, Young Super Talents, live on air after the match. One of the journalists was also invited to present the awards for the Under 16s category.

Now that the tournament has drawn to a close....it's time to prepare for the next one which is scheduled to take place in August. As World Cup fever grips, please take the opportunity to support a project which is combing education and soccer to help young children in Kenya.

Education and Sports

Celebrating scoring the winning penalty