Using play based approach to address WASH

Pupils of Stara during a life skills session on Hand Washing

Tuesdays and Thursdays are always packed days for WASH implementers to execute life skills and sports sessions at Stara Rescue Center and School. The new term and new games for tennis came with a clearer implication of the strength of using play to reach out to children with lessons around WASH, Literacy and numeracy.

One Tuesday, when coach Asha was held up and wouldn't make it for a session at Stara school became my center of interest to unearth how much the children from Stara School loved sport in comparison to WASH sessions. Together with my colleague, we studied the behavior of children in the absence of coach Asha and decided to further  the research

Normally, Sadili’s staff arrival at the school will attract the attention of all the children either in their class rooms or outside playing. The children would shout, and scream in joy as they chant songs because they know its play time with "coach tennis" as they had named Asha.

We decide that one day  coach Asha would be left behind so as to see the difference in our arrival at the school.As we entered the compound of Stara School, there were some normal excitements from the children, shouting the name Sadili and P.E congruently. We thereafter alerted the coach who was standing just outside the gate to join us. This made us dissolve into laughter as the children already organized in groups screamed in  excitement calling out the name coach, tennis and others shouting ‘game yetu’-our game.

Children during play session with coach Adongo

In conclusion, play based approach to address the situation of WASH and reaching out to out of school children is the best choice made by the court of dreams project that suits well the different categories in ages of the targeted groups. Children of Stara as a sample here give a clearer message that when play is involved the interest of children to learn is attained hence driving home the message of WASH, Literacy and Education.

Sadili team reaches the final in the Basketball charity event

Sadili Oval basketball team barely lost this month's Entertainment with Fun for Charity (EFC) tournament with 24 – 23 against Far East. The team however did not finish the match without remarkable score points.  This being the first EFC tournament in 2016, the turn up was huge and a total of ten teams registered for the same. The event took place at the Nyayo National Stadium Basketball Gymnasium on Saturday, 4^th, June 2016.

Sadili Oval players (from left) : Jensen R.W, Chris Oluk, Bobby Onyango, Liban Husein, Brian Oyoo and Zack Okong'o. Missing in the picture is Faheem Juma.

The players were among the teams in pool B and they managed to put a record of 42 – 11 in the battle against CBA before qualifying for the final match. Other teams in pool B included; Sunrise, MKB and Far East. Pool A teams included; Riara, Imara All Stars, Raptors, Wolf Pack and EFC.

The Sadili’s own passionate basketball player and coach, Mr. Robert Bosire said that the boys have not had their training sessions for over a month due to school – related and individual tight schedule but he expressed his joy towards the battle team members fought through to the final.

“I cannot complain in any way for my team not emerging the winners, it has been a fun-fulfilled day as well as a platform for us to directly participate in this noble course,” said Robert. 

Sadili Oval players (orange jersey) in action.

The main event sponsor was SportPesa and Homeboyz Radio. Other partner organizations included; Performers Rights Society of Kenya , ‪‎Nairobi Bottlers, St. Johns Ambulance among others. The event kicked off at 10am in the morning and this year’s main focus project is sponsoring a lady called Rita from Korogocho who cleared her secondary education and qualified to join the University of Nairobi for higher learning but is not able to raise school fees.

Nonini, co-organizer and celebrity musician, said “This event is beyond just giving food and clothes to the less fortunate, which is common across charity events.” He added that Entertainment with Fun for Charity (EFC) is looking towards expanding its charitable activities to more Childrens’ Homes beyond those they have supported which include Bondeni Children's Home in Kitengela, Filomena (Umoja), Angels Center (Limuru), Colour Kwa Face Foundation and ABC Childrens Home (Huruma) and Baby Blessing Children's Home in Kayole. 

Other celebrities who attended the event included KTN’s Straight Up presenter Cheroo and DJ KayTrixx, DJ Bash of Homeboyz. 

Celebrities at the event; DJ Kaytrixx (in shades), DJ Bash (inset), Ms. Cheroo and Nonini in white jersey.

The Kes. 200 entry fee paid on the day went towards Ms. Rita’s education, the gymnasium had over 500 people watching the tournament. Kes. 50,000 out of the KES.100, 000 awarded to the winning team also goes to the same kitty. Kes 20,000 was awarded to the Runners Up, Sadili Oval. Masaku Sparks won the ladies competition, bagging Kes. 10,000. 

Sadili Oval team and Coach Robert (on the right) pausing for a photo during award ceremony.

The event ended at 10.30 in the night after the awards ceremony. Next event is scheduled for 25^th, June 2016.

Slum Basketball Tournament Showcases Kids' Talent

Children under WASH program from Kibera slum were treated to a basketball tournament  at Sadili Oval's dusty Kibera tennis and basketball court on Saturday 28th, May, 2016. The basketball tournament was organized by Sadili Oval staff among them were coaches Asha Adongo and Trizah Mboya.

Coach Adongo takes the captains through note-flipping method to determine which team starts the tournament.

52 talented and excited children between 8 and 12 years turned up for the tournament which kicked off at 3pm as Coach Adongo introduced a flipping – note method to determine which team would start. The kids were divided into two teams; Blue team and Red team respectively, each team was composed of seven players and two bench-servers from each side.

Among the spectators was the Kibera tennis court caretaker, Mr. Wasonga who enjoyed the tournament throughout. Some of the kids could not manage to sit down long enough when the Blue team scored their first goal instead they broke into a dance to celebrate making the game more interesting.

Due to the large numbers and need to give everyone a chance the first session of the tournament lasted for one hour before half – time break! The two coaches coordinated this entertaining tournament and introduced a 30-minutes training before the second part of the game, the goal was to introduce a life skill, highlight the mistakes made during first – half and to help the kids exercise.

A brief training moment to point mistakes made during first – half of the match.

In the second – half, which also took an hour, the game became a neck to neck battle since the two teams had locked scores 1-1 and each team wanted to emerge the winner. On the other hand, the fans became more cheerful and their undying support to the individual teams kept the players moving and more aggressive to defend the winning title.

Both teams battle for a chance to emerge the winner.      

Coach Trizah gives instructions to the kids during the training session

The whistle was blown on top of the hour to end the match and following an itch to have the winner from the lively spectators, the basketball rule had to be broken which added more fun into the day; a delightful session was introduced where all the players and the coaches, tried their luck to add in more scores for the respective teams. Coach Trizah managed a score for Blue team.

Team Green shoots in style!

The tournament came to an enthralling end with team Green having lost 3 – 2 to Blue team.

This court, originally an area used by women for cultivating vegetables, was offered by the women of Katwekera to Director, Dr. Liz Odera, for use as a safe space for their kids to learn sports. It has now become the only space available for open play, and life skill learning, managed by Sadili Oval's trained social educators and community coaches.

Malezi Bball qualifies for Langata District Finals and County!

Sadili's Malezi Hawks today qualified for Langata District Secondary Schools Sports Association finals after trouncing Sunshine Secondary in the semi-finals. Says Coach Amoko, "This was an exciting moment as a majority of the team are new young recruits averaging 14 years old, and just beginning to feel their game in basketball. We are still building a team for the future. What happens at the finals will just be another chance to build our game, so it won't matter whether we win or lose". Well done Malezi! 

Cheers!

Sunshine10:07:05:04 Total - 26 points
malezi.   12:15:14:07 Total - 48 points
Top scorers were:
1.Martin Manaa - 15 points 
2. James Gok-13 points
3. Dennis Karani-13 points

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