How Football and Other Sports Are Improving Community Links in Kenya

Sports have been played at school for as long as anyone can remember – not only for the added bonus of getting children outside of the classroom and exercising but because of the friendships and relationships that playing sports can build.

When children don’t know someone else, it can be hard to break down those barriers in a structured classroom setting, whereas the fast-paced nature of sports means that they’re much more likely to come together as a team.

One of the best things about using sport as a way to bring people together is that there are always jobs and roles for people of all abilities which means that those with less athletic ability and disabilities can be included too.

Bringing People Together 

Kenya is not alone in being a place where being part of a community can easily be forgotten. We all live such busy and stressful lives that, sometimes, we forget what it is like to simply spend time with people whom we care about and just how much easier life can be when we have loved ones that we can lean on and depend upon.

Community isn’t just about having friendship groups but it’s about creating a network of people who can share skills, donate their time and generally work together to make life a little easier for everyone.

It may not seem as though football and sports, in general, are the best places for this to begin. However, time and time again, sports have proven to be a great for bringing people closer to one another. 

Bringing Together Communities 

Charities supporting Kenya have long recognised that sport can help to bring people together. A recent collaboration between ANDY and Comic Relief has helped to develop a plan for short throughout Kenya to ensure that it is accessible for everyone.

A big part of this is to encourage children to learn new skills and have fun – all while building their confidence and setting them up for greater things in later life. To some people, playing a sport is simply an excuse to get outside and do something. Yet, for many Kenyans, it is about escaping everyday life and meeting new people while they do it.  

In fact, there are lots of ways that people can get involved in sport within Kenya including visiting places such as Sportybet Online, where they follow a range of national and international sporting events. Groups of people often get together to witness the goings on of big-name sporting events, so placing a bet can just help to add to the excitement.

The Importance of Community 

There is an old saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and for many, that is exactly true. Life can be tough when you are facing things alone and you believe that you have to do everything yourself.

However, knowing that you have people that you can call upon for support or to tap into their knowledge can be a great relief and that is exactly what having a community behind you means. It isn’t just about playing sport and supporting those that do, but instead about coming together for a common interest and then learning just what else you have in common.

We all have different skills that we can bring to the table and community sporting events allow us to show off these skills and donate our time to others in a way that may be beneficial. Even sharing drinks at halftime and celebrating team wins together is a great way to ensure that no one feels alone and that is exactly how sporting events are helping to build community links in Kenya.