The Stawisha Jamii foundation helps children and young people in Kenya to get a better start in life. The pandemic has left its mark on everyday life there, but thanks to the work being done there are still bright spots.
Cultivate the Community
The past year has been extra demanding for many here at home in Norway. Sports events have had to take place behind closed stands, and for many children and young people, everyday life has changed dramatically.
Life in Africa has also been affected by the pandemic that hit the country in March. In Kenya, it is now the dry season, where it can go up to three months without rain. At the training facility in Nakuru, about 15 miles outside the capital Nairobi, 200 children and young people practice football several times a week. The facility is operated and managed by the Stawisha Jamii foundation, which also facilitates learning and development so that the children have the best possible opportunity to create a future for themselves.
General manager of Stawisha Jamii, Øyvind Haugen Wingan, is very satisfied with where they are today with regard to the football project. At the same time, he is clear that they have challenges with the economy, and that they are completely dependent on financial support to continue the work they do.
General manager of Stawisha Jamii, Øyvind Haugen Wingan, is very satisfied with where they are today with regard to the football project. At the same time, he is clear that they have challenges with the economy, and that they are completely dependent on financial support to continue the work they do.
- It has really helped with support from Superinvite and their customers, who are one of our biggest sponsors. In many ways, it has saved much of the operation in a tough 2020, says Wingan.
Help support Stawisha Jamii
As a customer, you can help children and young people in Kenya with education and enjoyment of sport every time you use Superinvite as a payment solution. Superinvite is a solution for all clubs and associations that want a simpler everyday life around payments and member management. For Superinvite, supporting those who are not as fortunate as us in Norway is an important mission. Contributing is of course completely voluntary, but we know there are many like us out there who would like to help make a little extra effort in their everyday lives.
Every penny helps
Wingan says that everything they receive helps to improve the everyday lives of hundreds of children and young people in Nakuru. Among other things, the contributions ensure that the children get a meal before and after all training, necessary football equipment and what they need for school.
- I think a place like this is the best recipe for the best possible starting point for the future, and for developing further as a responsible person. Having something to go to is very important, and makes it easier to stay focused and stay away from crime, Wingan explains.
There is therefore both physical and mental nutrition for the young people who participate in the programme. Nevertheless, there is much that could have been better. The lighting conditions on the pitch are currently far too poor, which they hope to upgrade as soon as possible. Wingan can tell that already at 19 will be too dark to play football, so new floodlights on the pitch will be able to extend the offer by several hours in the evening. Such an upgrade will benefit the entire local community, as the area will be perceived as much safer for everyone who lives there.
Made from the slums
Football tournaments organized in Kenya are mainly for the rich; the participation fee is often far too high for the teams from poor areas. So for the vast majority of people, it is only a distant dream to be able to participate in major tournaments and compete against the best teams. But Stawisha Jamii is one of the few teams that still does this, and that makes it possible for even the poorest of the poor to participate in international tournaments.
- One of the tournaments we took part in had several hundred teams from both Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, with teams that had ambitions to travel to Europe. There we came in 2nd place. So it's a bit of fun to see that we're doing so well, he admits.
A long-term dream is to one day participate in the Norway Cup. Being able to give that opportunity to some of the talent they have in the area would be fun.
- Such a trip is of course expensive, and not a priority now, for several obvious reasons, he continues.
The status quo
But the most important and most decisive goal now is to continue normal operations until 2021.
- Due to tougher economic times, the biggest pressure now is whether we are able to obtain enough financial support to continue operations as we thought it would be in 2021. No one had predicted that this pandemic would appear, with all the challenges it has taken its toll, says Wingan.
How has the corona pandemic affected sport in Africa?
Because the corona pandemic has really left its mark in Kenya, and there are far stricter restrictions there than at home in Norway. Among other things, they have introduced a curfew from 22 every day, at the same time that all schools were closed in March and for the rest of the year. The strict measures have had major consequences for the business world, especially for the lower middle class and the poor part of the population, but have kept infection rates low compared to other parts of the world. The tourism industry in the country has for the most part come to a complete halt. Very strict flight restrictions have led to industries where air transport is essential, such as the export of agricultural products and fresh produce, also experiencing major challenges.
But Stawisha Jamii has also felt the effects of a closed society. The pandemic has affected several of the family businesses of the parents in the area, which means that many of the children at Stawisha Jamii have had a tougher situation at home. When the schools were closed, many people lost their only option to go to during the day, and crime increased among young people. This meant that Stawisha Jamii became even more active in the children's everyday life, and could come in as an organization and contribute.
- We got an opportunity to be more with the children, give them activity and follow-up at football training and practice matches, says Wingan.
Stawisha Jamii is approved by the Collection Control, which acts as a guarantor that business is run responsibly and that the money goes to the stated purpose.
You can follow what's happening in Nakuru on Snapchat: stawishajamii or read more about the project at StawishaJamii.org
Also remember that you can contact Superinvite at any time for help with automatic administration of payments and member management.
Contact us today on 41 45 31 51 / support(at)superinvite.no for an informal chat.
