FIFA and the United Nations (UN) have teamed up to launch a global football program that aims to benefit a staggering 700 million children worldwide. The initiative, carried out in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), will be officially unveiled in Kakamega, Kenya, on July 30, 2023.
During the launch event, the President of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Nick Mwendwa, will be joined by representatives from FIFA, including Fatimata Sidibé, the Director of Football for Schools, Antonio Buenaño, the Manager of Football for Schools, and Melvin Mendy, a FIFA Football for Schools trainee.
The main objective of this program is to use football as a means to promote important life skills and competencies among children, thereby contributing to the attainment of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other global priorities. The program aspires to make a positive impact on both boys and girls from diverse backgrounds across the globe.
In Kenya, the program is expected to directly benefit over 2,000 schools throughout the country. FKF’s Head of Technical, Michael Amenga, highlighted the significance of youth and women’s football in the federation’s development agenda. According to Amenga, as children spend a significant amount of their time at school, the program aims to directly influence them by empowering their teachers through coaching education and the provision of football equipment.
The program is set to commence with a three-day football and life skills training session for 50 coach educators from all 47 counties in Kenya. These educators, who are teachers with a particular interest in primary school football, will be responsible for implementing football and life skills programs in their respective regions.
The official launch of the program will take place on Sunday, wherein boys and girls from selected schools in the Western region will come together at the Bukhungu Stadium. During this event, the children will engage in small-sided football games and receive life skills training.
In addition to the launch, participating schools will receive footballs and training equipment. The coach educators will continue to train primary school teachers within their regions, thereby disseminating the knowledge gained from the program to the children. Furthermore, primary school teachers directly involved with the children will be given priority in FKF’s coaching courses.
This initiative not only offers children the opportunity to showcase their football potential at an early stage of their development, but it also ensures that they are under the guidance of qualified personnel. By leveraging the power of football, FIFA and the UN seek to make a lasting impact on the lives of millions of children, fostering their growth and development through the beautiful game.
