This project will bring play and sport to girls and young women in rural communities in Coastal Kenya. The program will run play and sports programs in 52 communities on open grounds while providing the much-needed services to these communities like healthcare through referral and running wellness clinics, education by providing education scholarship to 100 girls from poor households and entrepreneurship and business training workshops in the community.
One in every three Kenyan females has experienced an episode of sexual violence before age of 18 with 70% of them being girls and young women (Kenya VAC, 2018). In Coast region and average of only 30% of girls transition from primary to secondary school. They become less visible, being out of school, with little or no education and poor knowledge of their rights, especially their sexual and reproductive rights. Cultural beliefs and poverty in the region put girls and young women in great danger
Girls who play sports (e.g.traditional games, football, etc.) not only gain physical and socio-emotional benefits, but also show improved academic achievement and educational advancement (Women's Sports Foundation). The academy will provide a platform for leadership development and a powerful opportunity for girls to build their self-efficacy, strengthen their voices, and broaden their community. The project will create safe spaces and education scholarship opportunities for one million girls.
Over one million girls and young women will become active in sports, will be empowered to lead themselves, their peers and their communities and have increased decision-making power in their families and communities. Through numerous skills and opportunities at the academy they will increase economic opportunities and build a sense of their own empowerment through participation and contributing to household decisions.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
