Keeping Hope Alive for 1000 Children and Youth

SEACOAST UNITED SOCCER CLUB (USA) INSPIRES GIRLS

"I had never thought of ever going to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. I only hear talks about it. It is a beautiful city with many people, tall buildings. I even went to the University of Nairobi where I want to go for higher education. To me that was a dream never to be!!!"- Naomi

"It was so exciting to meet over 300 girls of my age in Nairobi. We all played and enjoyed so much. I made so many friends." - Florence

"Everything went well. Though we had traveled long distance, 8hours to get to Nairobi, I really had fun!!! The trainers from Seacoast United Soccer Club from United Sates of America were so good. They helped us get new soccer skills and life skills." - Susan

These three girls Naomi, Florence and Susan were selected among 800 girls to represent them in a soccer clinic which was conducted in Nairobi on 18th to 21st June 2008 by Seacoast United Soccer Club from New Hampshire.

Your continued support is making really difference and keeping Hope Alive for children and Youths in Kenya. Thank you!

MADARAKA KWA WATOTO SOCCER TOURNAMENT ENDS ON A HIGH NOTE!!!

TYSA Sports ground, 35 minutes drive from Kitale town along Sibanga – Kapsara route is a beehive of body fitness activities on every weekend. Children from the local community make way to the pitch to jog their brains after a week greatly associated with books and pens.

June 1st 2008 marked such an imperative occasion whereby children below the age of 14 years took part in the ‘Madaraka Kwa Watoto’ tournament that was meant to educate them on their rights.

Madaraka is a Swahili word meaning freedom. Kenya celebrates every 1st of June for attaining this status. Unfortunately, children have been considered less in such occasions for quite some time. Besides, sky-racketing abuse on children rights: denial of leisure and play, freedom of expression among a bundle others has sent alarm bells ringing everywhere.

It’s in this retrospect that TYSA comes in handy to break the rift and bridge the gap between adults and children to help them voice up besides harnessing talents that would have otherwise remained hidden.

A total of nine teams for the boys and three for the girls playing seven aside battled for the Madaraka trophies that finally clinched at the hands of Beibei United who had an upper hand with key striking players and Pilipili FC on the girls’ side.

Dip FC, the runners up and third positioned Beibei City had enticing moments for producing the utility player, best defender and the goalkeeper with good diving antics.

Eight best players; four boys and four girls walked away each with a gift hamper that really motivated them. Jovial mood filled the air as they tried out their outfits and on TYSA Executive Officer’s note that best girl player would be taken for a training workshop in the capital - Nairobi.

And to sharpen more their claws, a general team selected from all the nine teams; Beibei United, Dip, Kawangware, Beibei City, Banana, Lion, Port and Makindu FCs took to their heels tussling with the East African Secondary Schools’ reigning champs Wiyeta Girls.

The match was sensational attracting a huge section of the community who braved the drizzling atmosphere to watch their boys play heroines. It was tight in the first half with scores maintained at 2-1. In the next half, the young boys’ speed, their greatest asset had deserted them resulting to a pulsating 5-1 goals with Wiyeta on the winning side.

“Hii mechi ilikuwa noma! Ningekuwa na ndula ningeplay better” (this match was tough, if I had shoes I would have played better). Commented one Peter whose striking efforts saw the lone goal. TYSA advocates for children rights and wish to promote children in the local community by providing them with facilities that would better their future…….

With the ‘No to Child Labor, Let Me Play’ banner conspicuous at the entrance to TYSA sporting Centre, a parent digested the message and could not hide his joy as he told another, “Wacha watoto wacheza, ni manufaa kwao”. Let the children play, it’s for their benefit.

EAST AFRICAN YOUTH IN SOLIDARITY WITH INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN TRANS-NZOIA DISTRICT KENYA

Many parts of Kenya particularly North Rift region were engulfed in unrelenting political violence arising from the disputed results of the December 2007 General elections. Ensuing protests led to loss of lives, property worth millions of shillings and displacement of over 20,000 people in Trans-nzoia East district specifically Geta Farm. These were hosted at the Noigam Kachibora IDP camp, where TYSA has been working for the last four months offering psycho-social support, sports & recreation, safe space for children, education scholarships for girls, child labour advocacy, peace building and youth empowerment.

This project will provide an opportunity for the East African youths to share knowledge and experiences and contribute towards dialogue, peace building, reconciliation and affirm solidarity with the internally displaced persons.

We look forward to your generous contribution to make this project a success.

Read the attachment for more details.

Keeping Hope Alive for Children and Youths Affected by Post election violence

• EAST AFRCAN YOUTHS IN SOLIDARITY WITH IDPs IN KENYA.doc (DOC)