【Project Activities】

Operating a year-round youth soccer league and providing food support in Kibera Slum, Africa’s largest slum, located in Kenya. Over 1,600 children from 118 teams across five categories—U-9, U-11, U-13, U-15, and Girls (including teams formed by street children)—participated in the league matches. In December 2024, a select team of U-13 players was formed and undertook an expedition to Tanzania. Sanitary products were provided to female players. Furthermore, in the event of disasters (such as floods or large fires) in Kibera Slum, emergency aid (food and daily necessities) is provided utilizing the Kibera A-GOAL League network.

【Project Background】

In 2020, A-GOAL provided food aid to over 10,000 people in African countries, including Kenya, where unemployment surged due to Covid-19, using local soccer clubs as hubs. Even after the Covid-19 situation stabilized, many children in the slums faced daily struggles for food due to poverty or resorted to delinquency and drugs. Sympathizing with the desire of former Kenyan professional soccer players to create an “environment where children can pursue their dreams” through soccer, A-GOAL began supporting the league’s operation.

【Project Objective】

To improve the environment where children abandon their dreams due to poverty, through soccer.

【Project Area】

Poverty alleviation through sports

【Methods】

Event/Competition Support

【Outcomes】

– Provided an environment where 1,600 children can passionately play soccer and receive meals (43,000 meals annually).

– 4 children advanced to school with scholarships through sports recommendations.

– 25 children who had never left Kenya or Nairobi went on an expedition to Tanzania.

– Multiple children were scouted by soccer academies, and 2 were selected for Kenya’s age-group national teams.

– Prevention of delinquency and improvement of discipline among league participants (feedback from parents and local schools).

– Formation of a community capable of assisting each other during floods and large fires.

– Increase in Japanese visitors to the Kibera A-GOAL League for project operation and field visits (bridging Kenya and Japan).

【Voices from Participants and Partners】

League Organizer: “The 25 children from Kibera Slum who participated in the Tanzania expedition ate meals, drank chai, and took warm showers without hardship for the first time in their lives. The children learned that life has different aspects, and that it can change with effort and challenge. They even learned that they could take their families out of the slum.”Teacher at a community school in Kibera Slum: “Children participating in the league are proactive and responsible. Their concentration has improved, and their school grades have gotten better. I am now encouraging other children to join the A-GOAL League.”

【Challenges and Lessons Learned】

It is crucial to continue operating the league. For this, a stable foundation, including financial aspects, needs to be established.

【URL】

朝日新聞 with Planet 「いつかロナルド選手のように　ケニアのスラム街、サッカーに賭ける夢」
https://www.asahi.com/withplanet/article/15566902