Dear Eunice,
First of all, I hope this email will find you well and safe after all these months of violence in Kenya. Secondly, congratulations on getting to Changemakers. Rape, sexual harassment and HIV/Aids are prominent threats to girls living in poverty all over the world. I think it is really admirable that you have created a project that addresses these difficult issues, helps generate an income and uses sport. Good job!! I am I really enjoyed reading about your project and think you have a great name. My question whenever I find an innovative and brave project, like yours, is: how do you monitor your progress, success and that changes your work has on girls and their families? I hope to read more about your work soon. Warmly,
Astrid Aafjes
Women Win
www.womenwin.org
I wanted to let you know about the Passback Program of the US Soccer Foundation (www.passback.org). They may able to send you some of these sports supplies that you are looking for.
Also, I have some questions for you. I run an organization called love.fútbol that builds simple, safe soccer fields for children in impoverished communities. What are the conditions of soccer fields where the girls in Kisumu play? Do they have sufficient access to safe venues or do you find children playing in hazardous conditions? Would your program specifically benefit from having a safer or cleaner soccer venue to implement your program or is this not a great concern in the area that you work? Your advice, either way, would be helpful.
We currently work in Central America, but we are interested in working in Africa someday.
Hi.
Its good to hear about the Passback program of the US soccer Foundation. I think God has let us meet in a way. Our biggest challenge anyway, is to get sporting equipment, and fortunately your organization would be willing/ we appreciate. Its been of difficulty to get sporting equipments and at one point we have to share with the boys, or invent like footballs using polythene papers! the girls play football bare foot, when we have competitions, then we borrow shoes, which at time do not fit! if we get one ball e.g., it doesnt last long and many others
We have 1 central ground in Kisumu which is put on hire, we train there every day but on the periphery - 20 -25 metre, since we cannot afford to pay for it. The football teams in the slums who cannot access and afford to reach the central field at times i.e. once i a while use schools - who have limitations, the condition of their fields is pathetic; meaning, stoney, thorny, bushy and also 30 metre wide and 15 - just enough for 6 people to dribble the ball at a time but not kick. We only have the schools in the slums who are not cooperative, though their field are poorly managed. The building of houses in the slums are soo fixed letting no proper space too for playing. It is worth to note that the children never miss when we train
It will be of greater advantage to have cleaner safer easily accesible venues for girls and children to play soccer. This would be a solution not only for the girls to play but even the kids/children to access the cleaner playing fields when the girls are not using. This would be of greter benefit to the communites too.
Please advice further. If you need photos, i will send. We welcom the idea
Eunice
Smart Ladies Youth Initiative
smartladiez@yahoo.com
eunicedollar@yahoo.com
USING SPORTS TO EMPOWER GIRLS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES
Thank you for submitting your entry during such a difficult time.
You mention Garbage collection as a source of revenue for your organization and your desire to link up with SACRENA also from Kisumu. Interestingly SACRENA has submitted an entry doing this very thing but helping the girls he works with directly. He has the girls collect trash, get paid for it, then go to have soccer practice. How does garbage collection work for you? In areas where government infrastructure is weak, a private or non-profit model of garbage collection could be an effective way to clear the streets and homes while earning revenues to help the children and the community.
I also sent along your contact email to Wycliffe Mboya, I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors and thank you in advance for your response.
Thanks for receiving our entry. Actually its been a difficult time
I already know Wycliffe, i just didn't know he does garbage collection with the girls! I will try and get in touch with him to discuss this and find possible ways for networking.
To answer your question; Garbage collection was a new idea from the girls to help keep their environment clean and win parents confidence to allow them play football and join the movement. It is also a way we use to pass Reproductive health information especially to girls in the particular neighborhood we are cleaning. We use this opportunity to do counselling and referrals for those who need Reproductive health services and counselling on post rape care and trauma management. This is also a source of income, but it has not worked well. We have tried to involve the government, once in a while they have come in to help, and thus we loose out on revenue collection. The community have given support but while its healthy and safe to keep the environment clean, majority opt not to pay for the service, hence its not picking up as we expected. We use the local chief office to help us relay information about our services.
A non-profit model for garbage collection would really be helpful, but all this needs support from well wishers
Dear Eunice,
First of all, I hope this email will find you well and safe after all these months of violence in Kenya. Secondly, congratulations on getting to Changemakers. Rape, sexual harassment and HIV/Aids are prominent threats to girls living in poverty all over the world. I think it is really admirable that you have created a project that addresses these difficult issues, helps generate an income and uses sport. Good job!! I am I really enjoyed reading about your project and think you have a great name. My question whenever I find an innovative and brave project, like yours, is: how do you monitor your progress, success and that changes your work has on girls and their families? I hope to read more about your work soon. Warmly,
Astrid Aafjes
Women Win
www.womenwin.org
Hi Eunice,
I wanted to let you know about the Passback Program of the US Soccer Foundation (www.passback.org). They may able to send you some of these sports supplies that you are looking for.
Also, I have some questions for you. I run an organization called love.fútbol that builds simple, safe soccer fields for children in impoverished communities. What are the conditions of soccer fields where the girls in Kisumu play? Do they have sufficient access to safe venues or do you find children playing in hazardous conditions? Would your program specifically benefit from having a safer or cleaner soccer venue to implement your program or is this not a great concern in the area that you work? Your advice, either way, would be helpful.
We currently work in Central America, but we are interested in working in Africa someday.
Thank you and best of luck,
Drew Chafetz
www.lovefutbol.org
Hi.
Its good to hear about the Passback program of the US soccer Foundation. I think God has let us meet in a way. Our biggest challenge anyway, is to get sporting equipment, and fortunately your organization would be willing/ we appreciate. Its been of difficulty to get sporting equipments and at one point we have to share with the boys, or invent like footballs using polythene papers! the girls play football bare foot, when we have competitions, then we borrow shoes, which at time do not fit! if we get one ball e.g., it doesnt last long and many others
We have 1 central ground in Kisumu which is put on hire, we train there every day but on the periphery - 20 -25 metre, since we cannot afford to pay for it. The football teams in the slums who cannot access and afford to reach the central field at times i.e. once i a while use schools - who have limitations, the condition of their fields is pathetic; meaning, stoney, thorny, bushy and also 30 metre wide and 15 - just enough for 6 people to dribble the ball at a time but not kick. We only have the schools in the slums who are not cooperative, though their field are poorly managed. The building of houses in the slums are soo fixed letting no proper space too for playing. It is worth to note that the children never miss when we train
It will be of greater advantage to have cleaner safer easily accesible venues for girls and children to play soccer. This would be a solution not only for the girls to play but even the kids/children to access the cleaner playing fields when the girls are not using. This would be of greter benefit to the communites too.
Please advice further. If you need photos, i will send. We welcom the idea
Eunice
Smart Ladies Youth Initiative
smartladiez@yahoo.com
eunicedollar@yahoo.com
USING SPORTS TO EMPOWER GIRLS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES
Hi Eunice,
here are two other Kenyan projects that came to my mind when I read your entry:
Binti, a girl´s soccer project that also addresses the situation of young women and reproductive health
http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/3592
Boxgirls Roadwork, boxing/running to improve self-esteem and visibility/safety in the public space
http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/2279
Hope it helps.
Jasper Nicolaisen
Free University Berlin
University Challenge
Hi Jasper,
Thanks alot for this concern.
I will peruse their page and get intouch with the 2 projects for networking purposes.
Thanks
Eunice
Hi Eunice,
Thank you for submitting your entry during such a difficult time.
You mention Garbage collection as a source of revenue for your organization and your desire to link up with SACRENA also from Kisumu. Interestingly SACRENA has submitted an entry doing this very thing but helping the girls he works with directly. He has the girls collect trash, get paid for it, then go to have soccer practice. How does garbage collection work for you? In areas where government infrastructure is weak, a private or non-profit model of garbage collection could be an effective way to clear the streets and homes while earning revenues to help the children and the community.
I also sent along your contact email to Wycliffe Mboya, I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors and thank you in advance for your response.
Best regards,
Tyler Ahn
Changemakers
Hi Tyler,
Thanks for receiving our entry. Actually its been a difficult time
I already know Wycliffe, i just didn't know he does garbage collection with the girls! I will try and get in touch with him to discuss this and find possible ways for networking.
To answer your question; Garbage collection was a new idea from the girls to help keep their environment clean and win parents confidence to allow them play football and join the movement. It is also a way we use to pass Reproductive health information especially to girls in the particular neighborhood we are cleaning. We use this opportunity to do counselling and referrals for those who need Reproductive health services and counselling on post rape care and trauma management. This is also a source of income, but it has not worked well. We have tried to involve the government, once in a while they have come in to help, and thus we loose out on revenue collection. The community have given support but while its healthy and safe to keep the environment clean, majority opt not to pay for the service, hence its not picking up as we expected. We use the local chief office to help us relay information about our services.
A non-profit model for garbage collection would really be helpful, but all this needs support from well wishers
Thanks
Eunice