Soccer Shoe Campaign 2018

#ChistmasGiftSoccerShoes #SoccerForHope #SoccerForChange #NextStar #ChistmasGiftSoccerShoes #SoccerForHope #SoccerForChange #NextStar


On 5th December 2018 we made a call to our network of friends and well wishers to join hands with us in our annual Soccer Shoes Campaign Gift by donating quality soccer shoe/s to the young stars who aren't in a position to acquire one of the most valuable resources in their soccer career. Many young people play with bare foot not knowing the risks they expose themselves playing in bad surface soccer pitch in the community, on the other hand there is a big gap in acquiring a soccer shoe, soccer balls, soccer Cons, tracksuits, uniforms etc.

 At Wilsen Initiative we want to bridge gap by providing the most basic resource like soccer balls, quality training, uniforms, etc. This December our target was to reach 20, but by today were are happy to acquire 30 soccer boots since we made the call. The campaign started the year 2000, whereby a total of more than 300 young stars have been reached.

Come, 1st Jan 2019, the campaign will not come an end, but will enter into the open contributions where anyone can add to the basket gift at their call through the year.

Other related links;

http://wilsenx.blogspot.com/2018/12/giving-back-through-soccer-shoe-campaign.html
http://wilsenx.blogspot.com/2013/08/change-that-starts-from-within.html
http://wilsenx.blogspot.com/2016/06/you-cant-miss-to-watch-right-to-play.html
http://wilsenx.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-reminiscence-of-football-shoes.html http://wilsenx.blogspot.com/2014/12/soccer-shoes-boots-campaign-right-to.html

Thanks to Pieter Jan de Bruijn, Pauline de Bruijnn, George Kamau, Kamuzi Banda, Roseline Nanah, Kate Syprine Nyarsojay, Esther Mazira and Ernesto Spruyt for your contributions. In a special way we want to wish you all the best in 2019, and may God bless the work of your hands.

 Note; The shoes will be handed over to the players on 1st January 2019. Other related links;

MORE THAN A FOUNDER - 2018 Digest!

 #IntrinsicValue I'm a Champion, Counting my blessing... #SocialEntrepreneurshipJourney #TheJourneyOfFounders #InTheMindFounder Every founder goes through a series of events before living the desired dream; from rejection, success, failure, lack of funds, team, ideation, partnership, stagnation, pressure, etc.

Today I want to share one the perspective as experienced in my journey, being passionate about other people's progress and well being isn't an easy call and not meant for the faint-hearted. Only those who embrace the act of love, compassion, dedication, humility, persistence and empathy, always strive to create many great possibilities, moments and transformation in their life and that of others when they are they are alive and their legacy last even when they are gone.

#ActionOriented #ResultOriented

I have learned that how I think, observe, feel and act contribute towards the pathways of great possibilities. #SocialEntreprenuership The journey of a social entrepreneur isn't easy to activate toward the desired direction or goal. A single action isn't enough, you have to create a chain of actions, tell your story and empower others to tell their own story. Rejection, disappointment, failure, missed targets, low energy, ‘burnout’’, lack of funds, etc. will always compete with your efforts and focus towards achieving the desired goal.

Achieving a milestone starts with how you embrace every moment towards unlocking the next possibility #AttitudeAltitude #PositiveAttitute As a founder I have faced low moments to an extent of calling it quit. But through the simple action of encouragement, support, teamwork, energy, etc. that has come from my network of friends and family has always kept me going, reflecting back where I have come and what I'm yet to achieve. Maya Angelou said “ I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

In the 2000 I started the Soccer Shoe Campaign to assist underprivileged young soccer stars acquire quality soccer shoes that would help them avoid injuries and boost their self esteems toward pursuing their soccer career despite their situation. So far we have reached more than 300 since inception and by the end of December 2018 we target to reach at least twenty more.


In a big way I want to thank everyone who has been part of my journey especially in 2018. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and prosperous new year. Let us do more in 2019 and beyond #InspiredWilsenInitiative

10 People You Are Most Likely to Meet in 2019 Around an IDEA

 #StartUP101 Even though our pathways might not be the same everyone goes through a process of actualizing an idea. At the center of any idea are the people you will meet either as partners, consultants, target audience, competitors, investors, staff etc.

 I believe that nobody is immune to generate ideas; the real game is in implementing of those ideas and seeing them through different phases. This thought process I have gathered reflecting back on the tournament idea I initiated back in 2011 dubbed Mathare North Festive Season Soccer Tournament currently in the 7th edition. Below are ten people you are likely to meet in your Start-Up journey;

1.  Those who think the idea is great while also creating many hypotheses and do nothing about it. (Idea Generators). 
2. Those who make great ideas happen. (The Doers / Change makers / Entrepreneurs). 
3. Those who think they have unique ideas (Thinkers). 
4. Those who think and work around finding even better ideas than what is currently in use. (Pacesetters / Innovators). 
5. Those that goes with any idea (Yes team).
6. Those that think that there are no great ideas (Perfectionist).
7. Those who believe in the idea and do nothing (Cheer squad).
8. Those that will look for meaningful partnership around the same idea (The Connector).
9. Those who will invest in the idea (The Investor). 
10. Those that will watch the idea evolve and claim credit. (The talker)

My biggest wish for 2019 is to connect more with action and result oriented personalities like some of you guys in 2018. You know yourselves, thanks for believing in the IDEA, and you played your part to MAKE IT HAPPEN. 1% IDEAS, 99% ACTION

The Secret of Building a Strong Alumni Network for Non-Profit Organizations.

Today I want to take a pause and reflect on how alumni networks can be a great source of knowledge transfer, fundraising, mentor-ship, volunteers, future staff, organization culture and organization's story to the levels that can promote a platform for continuous lifelong learning and mutual benefit for all, only if it’s well structured. One of the key pillars of a successful organization is in its vibrant alumni network and how they are deliberately engaged in a meaningful activity that contributes towards achieving the vision, as opposed to only attending an end of year parties and ad hoc engagements.

The Network...It begins with interest and responsibility

It continues with relationships that are worthwhile

It ends with benefit for all

Photo by Robert Anasch on Unsplash

Over the last 16 years I worked with great youth organizations in Kenya, Uganda, Zanzibar and Tanzania. One of the challenges I have identified with non-profit organizations, is having a well-structured alumni network that runs parallel in supporting the organization mission and vision. In most cases the alumni portfolio is just an activity or several activities on the yearly calendar, rather than being part of a core organization program and organogram by having a department that is fully facilitated by the necessary resources to run effectively and efficiently in data management, planning, fundraising etc.

Seven benefits of having an alumni department rather than an ad hoc system;

1. Impact assessment through Monitoring and Evaluation: track and trace of alumni activities, timely data management and collation.
2. Relationship building: Building professional connection with current and ex-students through effective communication and professional relationships.
3. Research and Development: Matching current trends with what is being offered by the institution.
4. Meaningful alumni engagement: Keeping in touch with the alumni career progress that would be beneficial to the organization, current students and alumni. 
5. Target programming: Over the time the alumni network gets to grow and it can be overwhelming to manage everyone in the network if there are no clear systems in place. There is also a high risk of information overload on one subject at the expense of other important areas. The alumni network is a great source of future employees of the organization only if a department is established to engage, monitor and evaluate the most talented and deserving candidate rather than relying on other sources which might be vulnerable to abuse. 
6.  Well defined leadership: Current students know who to engage (department) when they transit into the alumni and also understand their role as alumni’s.
7. Expert Career Advise; No random calls to address the current students, a threshold and standard should be met before an alumni is engaged in subject matter. 

I strongly recommend having an alumni department managed by Alumni relations officer, Alumni liaison person, Alumni coordinator or Alumni Manager or whichever title is appropriate. In conclusion, everyone should be encouraged to give back to the organization that nurtured them to next prospects no matter how small. The organization should also create platforms for ‘open door’ policy rather than lock out systems once the students graduate.

 I love this quote by Warren Buffett. “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” So let’s not destroy the great organizations we have fought tirelessly to build, rather let us usher in the next generation that will live the same values we aspired and contribute towards even greater strides in ever changing World either in technology, sports, community developments etc.

Soccer Shoe Campaign, The Next Star!

 Today I handed over 3 pair of soccer shoes to three great stars in Mathare North. I want to thank my brother Kamuzi Banda and my sisters Kate Syprine Nyarsoja, Esther Mazira, Evaline Akida and Roseline Nanah for making it possible through their contribution in kick-starting the campaign. My target is to at last reach 20 young stars by 31st Dec 2018. Now I'm left with 17 more to go...

I handed over the soccer shoes with my son Adrian. I invite you to join me in the annual soccer shoes campaign that seeks to connect young stars in Mathare slums with quality soccer shoes to avoid injuries but also to motivate them in their soccer journeys.


The campaign as so far reached more than 300 soccer stars since I started the campaign in the year 2000. This December we want to reach 20 more soccer players. Here we go. A quality second hand shoe cost approximately $18 (Kes 1,800). Get in touch with me through wilson.masaka@gmail.com on how you can make your contributions if you are around in Kenya or abroad.

 Related link;

Testimony by JohnMark Gachucha http://wilsenx.blogspot.com/2015/03/the-reminiscence-of-football-shoes.html

Giving Back Through Soccer Shoe Campaign

Christmas is a season of giving and sharing with friends, family and with those less fortunate in the society. Each year I give back to the community by organizing / coordinating the annual Mathare North Festive Season Soccer Tournament (MNFSST) which I founded in 2012.

As things evolve at high speed one would think the quality of life would also improve at the same pace. It's unfortunate majority of young stars from humble backgrounds still play soccer barefoot on dangerous field that poses a big threat to their development.

Founding Philosophy;

"People who give don't necessarily mean they have an excess of the resource, but they are naturally born with the heart of giving and sharing." - Wilson Masaka, founder Wilson Initiative (Wi) 

I invite you to join me in the annual soccer shoes campaign that seeks to connect young stars in Mathare slums with quality soccer shoes to avoid injuries but also to motivate them in their soccer journeys. The campaign as so far reached more than 300 soccer stars since I started the campaign in the year 2000.

This December we want to reach 20 more soccer players. Here we go. A quality second hand shoe cost approximately $18 (Kes 1,800). Get in touch with me through wilson.masaka@gmail.com on how you can make your contributions if you are around in Kenya or abroad.

Other related links,

• https://wilseninitiative.wordpress.com/2014/12/15/soccer-shoes-boots-campaign-right-to-play/ 
• http://wilsenx.blogspot.com/2013/08/change-that-starts-from-within.html

7th Edition of Mathare North Festive Season Soccer Tournament (MNFSST) – Senior Teams

This year’s tournament will run from 2nd December 2018 to 1st January 2019. A total of 15 teams, more than 300 players will be featured during the tournament.

The main aim of the tournament is to create safe space through soccer, especially during the festive season. Background of the tournament. During the festive season schools are closed and majority of young people idle around spending time in anything they think is necessary without a second thought and to their detriment during this period youth indulge in vices such as crime, drug abuse, endless parties just to mention but a few.

The foundation of the tournament is to create a platform where youth can spend their energy and time in playing or watching grassroots soccer where they connect with each other while they get life-skills from their coaches and community leaders. Since inception in 2011 we have had a total of 16 teams participating from within Mathare. \

During the festive season schools are closed and the majority of young people idle around spending time in anything they think is necessary without a second thought and to their detriment during this period youth indulge in vices such as crime, drug abuse, endless parties just to mention but a few. The foundation of the tournament is to create a platform (safe spaces) where youth can spend their energy and time in playing or by watching grassroots soccer where they connect with each other while they get life-skills from their coaches and community leaders.

 Main goals.

1. Safe space for youth during the festive season. 
2. Promote peaceful coexisting of people in the community. 
3. Promote soccer talents 

Areas you can support us;

1. Soccer balls. 
2. Uniforms. 
3. Officiating and communication.
4.  Documentary (Video and photography) 
5. Awards And many more... 

Contact me on; wilson.masaka@gmail.com