A Great End to the Year

On the morning of New Year's Eve our Suba Lakers Football Club invited the parents of all of our players to Mbita for a parent's meeting. All of the club officials were there to talk with the parents. Most of the three hour meeting was in the local tribal language, but I think I followed most of it. After appropriate introductions of everyone in the room, our vice-chairman explained to the parents the purpose of the club. Most of them already knew but it was good for them to hear again that we are trying to develop all-around girls, nourishing them spiritually, academically and physically. Football is the means which we can use to help them build better futures.

We officially announced the success that several of our girls had on their National Exams. One of our girls was the 8th best girl in the district (out of thousands), another one was the 16th best. Several of them will be proceeding to High School. We shared about how we help to tutor them when they come for training and that we give them time to study. We also gave the parents advice on how to help their child succeed academically.

Other officials shared about the team rules and guidelines, the program when they come for training and other issues pertaining to them. Before concluding we shared about the successes on the field.

The highlight of the day though was the comments and reactions of the parents. Typically in Kenya, at the end of every 3-4 hour meeting, the participants have time to speak their mind. Most of the time, at least in my experience, they are complaints and other negative things. This time was much different. The parents praised the club for how it is helping their girls. Some talked about how they have seen their child's character changing over the last 1-2 years. Others talked about the improvement in their academic performance. Others said that without the help of the club their girl would have never finished 8th grade and passed her national exam. Many said that football is keeping their daughters busy with positive activities and keeping them away from pregnancy and dropping out of school like many girls in their villages. All of them wanted the girls to come and train even more often (sometimes we feel guilty like we are calling them to come to much, but we found out the parents feel differently). Others commented on the way we handle their daughter with such care and concern and the way we communicate with the families and the schools they come from. There were also good comments on some things we can improve in the future.

I can't explain how touched my heart was after the meeting. These widowed single mothers and old grandmothers can see that we are helping to make a difference in their girl's life. There was no better way to end the year than that!