Sadili's Court of Dreams for Peace

International Day of Peace (Peace One Day) marks a time of unity, harmony and celebrating humanity as a whole. On 21^st September 2016 Sadili Oval Sports Academy through its Court of Dreams program joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Peace Day with 75 Jitahidi and 100 Nazarene Primary school pupils in Nairobi’s Kibera Slums. 

Under the theme “Conflict resolution,” Sadili staff prepared a range of activities for the Peace One Day that was celebrated by the two schools separately at different times of the day.  Celebration at each school took slightly over an hour and the pupils played sports (tennis, basketball and other fun games), had group discussions on peace and sang peace songs. This event also provided a platform for friends who had been at loggerheads with each other to reconcile. This was done by simple acts of kindness such as shaking of hands, smiling and saying sorry. 

Noella of Jitahidi Primary School on Peace One Day

“I didn’t know people celebrate peace every 21^st September, until you [Sadili staff] told us about it,” said Noella, a pupil Jitahidi Primary School after the session. “I have learnt a lot today, and I promise to say sorry when I have hurt another person, to forgive others when they have hurt me and to keep from holding grudges. That way I know I will be at peace with everyone” 

Peace One Day celebration at Nazarene Primary School

Throughout the week (19^th-23^rd September) Sadili staff also visited other schools participating in the Court of Dreams programme with the same message of peace. They had different sessions with 50 pupils from St. Catherine’s primary school, 37 pupils from Becky Nursery school and 120 pupils from Karama Academy. In all these school, Sadili’s Social educators had activities similar to those that had been done on Peace Day, emphasizing on the need for the whole world to observe a day of peace.

The International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations in 1981, to encourage the world to work together toward the goal of worldwide peace. 

Kids learn basic tennis skills on Peace One Day

“We believe in empowering the young generation as catalysts for peace building,” said Kevin, a social educator during the session with Jitahidi Primary School. “Children are the future of humanity, and if we’re ever going to have a peaceful world, we need to be able to have them celebrate peace day”.

The Court of Dreams follows the journey of children between 3 and 12 years, the age in which one can leave a positive influence in a child forever. Using sports, mainly tennis and basketball to promote this project, we are doing our best in encouraging better hygiene habits, attendance in school as a result of better health and therefore improved performance in school. 

Sadili's Girl Power Cubs Africa uses Sports to Celebrate Peace One Day

It is common knowledge that sport as a universal language can be used as a powerful tool to convey a message of peace. In honour of the 2016 International Day of Peace, Sadili’s Girl Power Clubs Africa on Saturday 17^th September held a sports day that saw 62 Girl Power Club members from St. Catherine’s and Nazarene Primary schools assemble at Sadili grounds to play, learn important life skills and celebrate peace.

With the theme ‘conflict resolution’, the day started with an insightful and interactive 3 hour forum that was led by Ms. Everlyne Sigilai, Mr. Kevin Ayuko and Sr. Gloria Ozuruoke who are social educators at Sadili. In this forum the girls learnt about the history of Peace One Day and its relevance in today’s world.  The forum also provided a platform for the girls to freely discuss the types of conflicts they have found themselves in, how they resolved the conflicts and the steps they have taken to avoid such situations. The girls also presented attention-grabbing short skits on conflict resolution that kept everyone entertained and engaged. At the end of the forum, the girls recited non-violence pledges. One of the pledges read in part “…I promise to say I’m sorry and mean it when I have hurt another person, to forgive others when they have hurt me, and to keep from holding grudges”.

The forum was followed by sports, where Sadili staff joined the girls in playing soccer and rugby.

“It has been a wonderful experience. I now have a better understanding of what peace means to me as an individual, what it means to my relationships with friends and what it means to the whole world. I can’t wait to share what I have learnt today with my family when I get back home,” remarked Yvonne Atieno, a pupil at St. Catherine’s Primary school. “The sports have also been so much fun, just the way I had expected!”

This sports day was just one of the many activities that Girl Power Clubs had planned for this year’s celebration of Peace One Day. On the week of the Peace Day (Monday 19^th-Friday 23^rd), Sadili staff visited Girl Power clubs in schools including Olympic High School on 19^th, St. Catherine's Primary School on 20^th, Nazarene Primary on 21st (which was also the official Peace One Day) as well as Karama Academy on 23rd where the same message of peace was spread under the theme ‘conflict resolution’. The social educators put a lot of emphasis on the fact that peace begins with an individual and that everyone should take the responsibility to stand for peace. By Friday 23rd September, Sadili staff had reached more than 150 Girl Power Club members with the message of peace.

Sadili Oval Sports Academy strongly believes in the power of sport to promote peace and understanding by bringing people together across boundaries, cultures and religions. Girl Power Clubs Africa, a program initiated in 2007 by Sadili’s director and head professional Dr. Liz Odera , focuses on providing girls with a chance to learn life skills and learn to make decisions that affect their lives and their communities positively.

Below are a few photos from our celebration of Peace Day with Girl power Clubs. Enjoy!

Sadili Oval Sports Academy commemorates Peace One Day

No more fights:Kids make peace on Peace Day

International Day of Peace (Peace One Day) marks a time of unity, harmony and celebrating humanity as a whole. On 21^st September 2016, Sadili Oval Sports Academy through its Court of Dreams and Girl Power Clubs Africa programs joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Peace Day with Jitahidi and Nazarene Primary schools in Nairobi’s Kibera Slums. 

Under the theme “Conflict resolution,” Sadili staff prepared a range of activities for the peace month of September, the main one being a major sports day that was held at Sadili Oval grounds on Saturday, 17^th September. The sports day saw over 60 Girl Power Clubs Africa members from St. Catherine’s and Nazarene Primary Schools and their teachers gather at Sadili grounds to celebrate peace using sports. 

Promoting peace using sports

“We believe in empowering the young generation as catalysts for peace building,” said Kevin, a social educator during a session with Jitahidi Primary School. “Children are the future of humanity, and if we’re ever going to have a peaceful world, we need to be able to have them celebrate peace day”.

The young girls and boys had an opportunity to play, sing and discuss what peace means to them. They freely talked about the times they have been in conflict with their friends and the consequences that followed. This event also provided a platform for friends who had gotten into fights to make up with each other.

Young girls determined to eliminate violence

“Peace starts with you,” said Gloria, a social educator during a session with Nazarene primary pupils. “You need to start by forgiving that friend or teacher of yours who wronged you this morning, or yesterday, or even last week. Don’t forget to also ask for forgiveness from anyone you have wronged. You need to first make peace with your neighbor.”

The International Day of Peace was established by the General Assembly in 1981, which later fixed the day in 2001 to be observed every year on 21^st September as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. 

Sadili Oval sports Academy through its programmes (Court of Dreams and Girl Power) works closely with schools mainly in Kibera to empower the slum children and help make them agents of change.

Impressive tennis at Sadili 8-Series Junior Tennis Challenge No. 6

Fifty-nine junior tennis players converged at Sadili Oval Sports Academy on Saturday 3^rd September 2016 for the Sadili 8-Series Junior Tennis Challenge no. 6 for U6, U8, U10 and U12. Despite the cold weather in Nairobi, high quality tennis was seen in all the matches.  

This was a free-entry tournament, open for everyone, with a majority of the participants drawn from Sadili’s Court of Dreams project. There were a total of 8 events and 12 draws played in all the 7 tennis courts at Sadili Oval. 

The tournament, run under a Sadili/International Inspiration partnership, was sponsored by Wilson Sporting Goods, Sadili Oval and Comic Relief among others.

This time Sadili staff were lucky to have experienced volunteer coaches from the USA, Kent Smith and Christine Smith joining them as referees. The volunteer coaches have been spending their afternoons at the Kibera Tennis Court teaching tennis to kids.

RESULTS OF THE TOURNAMENT-03/09/2016

In the under 6 boys’ category, seed Fred Ramsey carried the day after beating Eugene Michael in the finals, with Naomi Wanjiku trouncing Lorraine Adongo to win the under 6 girls’ singles.

Talented Angela Alwanga for the third time in a row proved to be the strongest in the under 8 girls’ category beating Michelle Atieno in the finals, while Stephen Kigunzi beat Brian Odhiambo to claim victory in the boys’ under 8 category.

In the under 10 boys’ category, Patel Ambecha emerged winner after beating Samuel Otieno in the finals, while Emi Imani dominated the under 10 girls’ category defeating Dorothy Achieng in the finals.

Edwin Ochieng lifted the under 12 boys’ category after a tough battle with rival seed Edward Odogo in the finals, while Fanice Asengo Thrashed Terryann Njeri in the Girl’s Under 12.

To view the detailed final results please click on the link below: http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/winners.aspx?id=CEC6F1BB-C0B2-4F60-A25D-B3A2C1C087FC

The day was then topped off with lunch for all the kids and some refreshing beverages. 

Tournament organisers who are also Sadili staff were happy with the successful weekend and are now looking forward to the next tournament: Sadili 8-Series Junior Tennis Challenge No. 7 in early October. 

The Sadili 8- Series Junior Tennis Challenge is a tournament for U6, U8, U10 & U12 kids (all levels), with Tennis Africa Cup ranking. It is intended to encourage beginner-intermediate juniors to play competitions.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped to make this day a success, and especially to our volunteer coaches who came all the way from the United States to train tennis to kids and support our activities.

A Major Boost:Sadili Receives New Racquets

Sadili’s Court of Dreams program on Friday, 2^nd September 2016 received a major boost after a generous donation of racquets and tennis balls from Ms. Amelia Barry, a former Australian volunteer at Sadili, and her family.

Face washing demo in the middle of the game

As is the norm, children participating in the Court of Dreams program had gathered to play at the Kibera Tennis Court with one coach when Ms. Barry’s family, consisting of 4 members, accompanied by Dr. Liz Odera, Head Professional of Sadili Oval Sports Academy and a team of coaches from Sadili joined to play tennis with them. The tennis session was an extraordinary one with important life skills embedded in it.  In just over an hour, the kids had played tennis and practiced some basic WASH habits like hand washing, tooth-brushing, face-washing etc. Learning has never been more fun!

This donation means a great deal to the Court of Dreams program and Sadili Oval Sports Academy.  It gives the children and coaches equipment to go forward with tennis and work to build the project. We are grateful to Ms. Barry and her family for their generosity to Sadili and the kids.

The Court of Dreams follows the journey of children between 3 and 12 years, the age in which one can leave a positive influence in a child forever. Using sports, mainly tennis and basketball to promote this project, we are doing our best in encouraging better hygiene habits, attendance in school as a result of better health and therefore improved performance in school. 

Let them play!