The Football for Schools (F4S) program, an initiative to improve Kenyan elementary schools, will be introduced by FIFA, the world governing body.
On Sunday, July 30, 2023, Kakamega will host the program's launch. It is an initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Along with the FIFA delegation, Antonio Buenao, the manager of Football for Schools, and Melvin Mendy, a FIFA Football for Schools trainee, the FKF President Nick Mwendwa will attend the event.
FIFA hopes to have an impact on more than 700 million kids worldwide through the program, both boys and girls.
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It has been planned to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other priorities of the UN while promoting specific life skills and competencies through football.
Over 2,000 schools across Kenya are expected to directly benefit from the program.
“Youth and women's football remain key in FKF’s football development agenda. Since children spend most of their time in school, we believe that we can directly impact them through capacity building of our teachers with coaching education and provision of football equipment,” said Michael Amenga, FKF’s Head of Technical.
A 3-day football and life skills training session for 50 coach educators, a chosen group of teachers from all 47 counties around the nation who have an interest in primary school football, will kick off the program on Friday. FKF will entrust the educators with running specific football and life skills programs in their areas.
Boys and girls from a few Western area schools will gather on Sunday at the Bukhungu Stadium for the program's formal introduction. The children will participate in life skills instruction and small-sided football activities.
After the program's start, participating schools will get footballs and practice gear. Additionally, attention will be given to primary school instructors who work with kids directly in FKF's coaching programs.
Long-term, the program will provide kids with a chance to not only demonstrate their potential early in the life cycle of their football development, but also ensure that they are managed by professionals.
