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By Michael Oyier, 23rd January 2023
Mathare Peace Initiative hosted a Back to School Tournament at Undugu Grounds from 16th January to 21st January 2023, aimed at promoting the importance of education as a right of a child and nurturing talents among school-going children in the area. The tournament, organized by MPI-Kenya in partnership with the slums core academy and well-wishers, included several friendly matches that saw teams of boys and girls under 16 years compete for prizes.
The event was flagged off by Madam Winnie Atieno from the Winnie Atieno Foundation, who emphasized the importance of education to the children. Happy Alphonce invited everyone on board and explained the main agenda of the back to school tournament.
Despite the challenges faced by organizers such as a lack of adequate resources and failure by some partners to fulfill their pledges, the tournament was a huge success. Spectators cheered on the teams that played friendly matches, which included Japan City, Statehouse Academy, Slum Scores, Wahasi, Colour of Art, Palalumbao, Rafiki FC , Russia, Statehouse, Palalumbao FC, and Wahasi FC, Russia FC.
The playing teams also enjoyed some uji and groundnuts during breaktime, courtesy of the organizers. The tournament not only helped promote the importance of education but also engaged the school-going children and kept them busy during the long holiday, mitigating any chance of them engaging in crimes.
This tournament is part of the effort by MPI-Kenya and its partners to support the education of children in the informal settlements of Nairobi. The organizers targeted that every child should go back home with at least three exercise books, a pen, and a textbook. The back to school tournament also aimed to promote equality of boys and girls and nurture talents among the children.
The Back to School tournament in Mathare Constituency was a huge success, and the organizers recommended early planning and proper resource mobilization to make the event even bigger and better next time.
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