Blog written by Wyatt Foster based on the paper written by CFK Africa’s Program Manager, Mediatrix Tuju, and Deputy Director of Communications and Development, Emma Harver
In many parts of Africa, including Kenya, girls and women face significant barriers to participating in sports and accessing the benefits that come with it. Traditional gender norms in Kenya, poverty, and lack of financial resources limit girls’ access to educational, social, and economic opportunities. Additionally, girls and women living in urban slums and marginalized communities face increased risks of harassment, assault, and other safety issues. These barriers restrict access to the transformative power of sports, which can build confidence, leadership skills, and unlock educational and economic opportunities. CFK Africa is working to address these challenges, promoting gender equality and empowering the next generation of African women.
The Impact of Soccer on Girls’ Empowerment
CFK Africa has been running a holistic girls’ empowerment program through soccer in Kibera for over 20 years. This program enrolls young girls and women aged 10-30 years in soccer games and life skills trainings. A recent study conducted by CFK Africa evaluated the impact of soccer on the well-being, social, and economic development of the participants. Using a qualitative approach, the study incorporated focus group discussions (FDGs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) to collect stories and assess impact. The study aimed to determine if soccer initiatives effectively promote holistic girls’ empowerment, particularly in social, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), individual agency, and capacity building. It also examined the role of sports in providing socio-economic opportunities, enhancing leadership skills, and contributing to economic empowerment. CFK Africa’s Programs Manager, Mediatrix Tuju, presented the findings at the Women’s Economic Empowerment Conference at Kenyatta University in July 2024.
Why Girls’ Empowerment Matters
Girls’ empowerment programs are essential for addressing gender disparities and promoting socio-economic development globally. These programs provide girls with skills, knowledge, and resources to overcome challenges posed by patriarchal societies and economic hardships. Girlhood and adolescence are periods of significant growth and change, filled with vulnerabilities and opportunities. Evidence shows that girls and adolescent women fare worse than boys on various outcomes, including education, health, income opportunities, and experiencing violence (Presler-Marshall et al., 2022; Ramaiya et al., 2023). Key events like early marriage, motherhood, and gender-based violence can drastically alter a girl’s life course (Stark et al., 2021). Empowerment programs often include educational initiatives, vocational training, life skills development, and health education, all contributing to the overall well-being and economic advancement of girls and women (Gould et al., 2007).
Theoretical Orientation and Methodology
CFK Africa uses a participatory development methodology rooted in postcolonial, emancipatory social science to empower marginalized voices (Keahey, 2021). Since 2001, it has prioritized locally led leadership, believing sustainable impact and poverty solutions come from the communities themselves. All programs incorporate the ideas and experiences of the communities CFK Africa serves.
CFK Africa operates under a theory of change model that creates a continuous process of reflection to explore how change happens in the context and communities they work within. CFK Africa’s girls’ empowerment programs uses an intersectionality theoretical framework, acknowledging the relationship between the social and political identities of girls and young women in informal settlements and the challenges they face at the convergence of multiple marginalized identities.
This qualitative study evaluated CFK Africa’s soccer initiatives’ impact on young women’s economic status using focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Participants included girls and young women in CFK Africa’s soccer programs, such as the Kibera Soccer Women FC team. Purposive sampling selected 23 participants, split into two FGDs (12 and 11 young women). The younger group (ages 10-19) provided insights on immediate impacts on education, life skills, and economic aspirations, while the older group (ages 20-30) offered information on long-term impacts on economic status, employment, and financial independence. Experienced CFK Africa facilitators, moderated these discussions using a semi-structured guide.
The focus group discussions explored themes such as the motivation to join soccer, empowerment through soccer, sexual and reproductive health, behavioral change, and economic opportunities. Key informant interviews with three key informants (coaches and players) provided additional insights into challenges and recommendations for enhancing the program’s effectiveness.
What We Found
CFK Africa’s soccer initiatives positively impact the socio-economic status and financial situation of its participants. By elevating their community status, facilitating educational advancement, offering exposure to new people and places through travel, and fostering financial independence by providing consistent stipends, the program has enriched the lives of young women and positioned them for future success. Participants noted that the soccer team has become like a family to them, offering community and the opportunity to build a “brighter future.” The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature by highlighting the lived experience of girls in informal settlements, underlining the multifaceted benefits of sports participation for socioeconomic development.
This study found that playing on the Kibera Soccer Women FC has significantly improved the socio-economic status and financial situation of its participants with the provision of a monthly stipend and transportation allowances. Regular income has replaced the unsustainable rewards of occasional meals and applause, leading to transformative effects such as building homes, paying for school fees, and supporting family members. Increased financial empowerment has also enhanced health outcomes, enabling players to save for emergencies, pay for medical treatments, and afford a balanced diet. Overall, the financial independence gained from playing soccer has fostered self-reliance, responsibility, and the ability to plan for their futures.
One player shared that she is now, “saving jointly with her mother for emergencies because her mother is a single mother and soon, she will need a piece of land to build a home.”
The results of this study encourage continued support and investment in soccer programs for girls as they promote sexual and reproductive health, enhance social inclusion, well-being, and economic empowerment of young women in informal settlements like Kibera. The participants of the focus group discussions and key informant interviews shared their own recommendations to provide more opportunities for girls, including holding more training sessions and expanding current training opportunities. There is also a continued need for equipment such as cleats, training kits, track suits, uniforms, training fees including gym access and membership costs, stipends for the players, travel to games, and signing new players to increase the team roster.
With the accessible and relatively low barrier to entry to implement soccer programs in communities experiencing extreme poverty, this study strongly provides support for the continued funding support by foundations, non-governmental organizations, corporate sponsors, and other stakeholders to meaningfully improve the lives of young women and enhance their economic opportunities. As CFK Africa’s sports for development program continues to evolve, it holds great potential to further empower young girls and contribute to their holistic development.
Read the full paper and findings: Effectiveness of CFK Africa Girls’ Empowerment Program in Enhancing Women’s Economic Status in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
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Sources
Gould, D., Collins, K., Lauer, L., & Chung, Y. (2007). Coaching life skills through football: A
study of award winning high school coaches. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 19(1), 16–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200601113786
Keahey, J. (2021). Sustainable Development and Participatory Action Research: A Systematic Review. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 34(3), 291–306.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-020-09535-8
Presler-Marshall, E., Oakley, E., Abu Hamad, B., Diab, R., Jones, N., Alheiwidi, S., Yadete, W., Seager, J., Baird, S., Oakley, E., Diab, S., Jones, R., Hammad, A., & Alheiwidi, B. (2022). Adolescent girls’ and boys’ experiences of violence: Evidence from Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE).
Stark, L., Seff, I., & Reis, C. (2021). Gender-based violence against adolescent girls in humanitarian settings: A review of the evidence. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 5(3), 210–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30245-5
