The ParkInn Hotel in Nairobi was the venue for the presentation of the ‘La Ligue D’ Égalité – Kenya’ project, a new initiative from LALIGA and FUNDACIÓN LALIGA which will develop a social football league in the community of Kibera, one of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the Kenyan capital, where more than 250,000 people live in poverty, with no access to basic urban services and are living in overcrowded conditions.
For six months, and in collaboration with the NGO IBL, LALIGA and its Fundación, will launch a sports and education programme aimed at more than 400 girls in the area. Football and the values of sport, such as companionship, tolerance, sportsmanship and respect, will be integrated into everyday society, with the aim of improving the quality of life and community harmony. It will be the second implementation of the ‘La Ligue D’ Égalité’ project, which has been running in Cameroon for three years, with the aim of creating the first formal football league in the country for girls under 17 years of age.
In an event attended by a multitude of entrepreneurs, media outlets and representatives of the city’s main organisations, LALIGA’s delegate in Kenya, Álvaro Abreu, explained the details of the agreement with IBL, as well as the initiative’s development process and the calendar of sporting and educational activities planned for the coming months.
Additionally, he highlighted the important presence that LALIGA will have in the competition, where each of the 22 participating teams will carry the name of a LALIGA Hypermotion club, demonstrating the region’s strong attachment to football, a sport that is generating more and more excitement in the East African country. The project will have continued logistical and organisational support from LALIGA, who will also provide sports equipment to ensure the activities being carried out operate smoothly.
The competition will have a strong social aspect and community responsibility, as sporting points will be earned not only on the playing field, but also in various monthly activities such as litter picking and educational workshops on the most pressing issues in the region (teenage pregnancy, menstrual hygiene, fair work opportunities…etc).
Furthermore, FUNDACIÓN LALIGA will develop training courses for the 25 coaches of teams in the competition, guided by FUNDACIÓN LALIGA’s own methodology “Values to Win”, focused on the teaching of good values through football during childhood.
Plus, the organisation will provide 22 scholarships (one per team) for the girls participating in the project who are the most vulnerable in their families, have the best attitude and are most committed during training sessions and matches.
Olga de la Fuente, Director of FUNDACIÓN LALIGA, believes that “the implementation of this social integration project through the values of football means providing real opportunities for personal and sporting growth to many girls in vulnerable situations, so we’re very grateful to be able to contribute our bit to this inspiring project”.
Furthermore, Erick Juma, CEO of IBL, states that ¨it’s fantastic news within a very complicated context. I have witnessed many girls drop out of school and fall into difficult life situations because of their families, against an environment that lacks basic needs and role models. I always thought that football would be a tool to change things, so we are very happy that LALIGA and FUNDACIÓN LALIGA have decided to join us and help transform our community, bringing hope and giving our girls a positive vision of tomorrow”.
¨This project is another example of LALIGA, and its Fundación’s, commitment to the region, with the aim of adding value to society and empowering many young people and adults who have football as one of their main passions in life. Additionally, the Kibera programme is a continuation of the Ligue D’ Égalité project from Cameroon, and we want it to become a standard throughout the African continent in terms of supporting women’s football and football development in general,¨ concluded Álvaro Abreu, LALIGA delegate in Kenya.
