Football For Social Change - School Holiday, Parents Meeting.

On Sunday, November 5, at Drive-inn Primary School in Mathare North, I was honoured to the guest speaker during the Red Eagles football club parents' meeting. 

Helping community-based and youth-led initiatives create sustainable systems and structures that will allow them to accomplish a more inclusive program that will eventually be sustainable is part of what I do under the Wilsen Initiative (Wi) and +throughMylens. 

The Gap 

Due to difficult financial circumstances, where parents would spend the majority of their hours sourcing for daily meals, one of the main challenges of the modern day is finding enough parenting time, especially for parents living in underprivileged neighbourhoods. 

There is a pattern of neglect that I have observed, particularly during the holidays, where kids from underserved neighbourhoods are abandoned to play random games on the streets posing various risks within the narrow streets.

The Solution 

Playing football and participating in related activities is one of the safest school holiday activities for children and teenagers from underprivileged neighbourhoods. The football training offered by grassroots clubs and initiatives provides the participants with both on and off the field skills that can help them learn how to manage their time well and stay away from bad influences. 

Unfortunately, most parents lack the understanding about the possible benefits to their children's present and future football growth, therefore they don't allocate the time or resources to assist or participate in their child's football development. 

Parents must become more active and educated in order for them to understand the value football creates and the role they may play in it. There is a rising knowledge gap in the ecosystem of football development where parents are involved.

During the meeting I was able to share the following;

1. The significance of establishing a more cooperative strategy that include parents.

2. Mobilization of resources.

3. Follow up, roles and responsibilities

4. Parental supervision and support.

Parents are an important pillar of children development and involving them in the every stage (parents and guardians) is essential.  

Not every parent has played football, and even those who have need to keep up with the latest developments and recognize the importance of the game both on and off the field. It is necessary to hold more gatherings, campaigns, and other awareness-raising events.  

Finally, I am always willing to talk about my experience and teach parents and clubs official about the important role they may play in the development of future stars, especially if they reside in underprivileged areas.

Do More / Be More / Be Different