St. Catherine’s Ushindi Boys Club Successfully Holds First Ever Elections

St. Catherine Primary school’s Ushindi Boys Club members convened at one of the classes in the school to take part in the club elections held on Tuesday 23^rd May 2017 to elect new club officials. The excited boys listened as each candidate was given a platform to explain why they were fit for their roles. The elections were organized and presided over by Sadili Staff including Kevin Ayuko, Eddy Amos, Hassan Noor and Brighton Savayi. 

The following pupils were voted in as the new leaders:

Chairperson: Jonathan Omondi

Vice Chairperson: Modi Kassim

Secretary: Arnold Omondi

Treasurer: Dennis Otieno

Business Manager: Derrick Ndege

Marketing Manager: Bill Kiprotich

Sports Manager: Wilfred Ochieng

Captain: Brian Omondi

Like all effective teams, each leader of the club has been assigned specific responsibilities and tasks for which they are accountable.

“Through your election, your peers have recognized your leadership skills and potential to manage the club effectively. Your term in office will offer many opportunities to learn new skills, enhance the experience of others and grow as a leader.  By taking advantage of the many opportunities to learn and grow, your term can have personal and professional development benefits that will last a lifetime,” said Kevin Ayuko as he addressed the newly elected leaders.

Kevin, Brighton, Hassan and Amos further congratulated the newly elected officer bearers of the Club and wished them best of luck for the coming year.

St. Catherine Primary School is located in Nairobi’s Kibera Slums, an area where young people face numerous challenges as they transit from adolescence into adulthood.

Founded by Dr. Liz Odera, the Ushindi Boys Club is a program in which boys aged between 11 and 17 (Std 6 and Form 2) gain entry and are expected to become graduating leaders. The program primarily focuses on Boys in school. The project uses sports, mainly athletics, basketball and tennis, to the address various issues affecting young boys.

French Open First Rugby School in Kenya at Sadili

Sadili Oval Sports Academy was the center of interest when a high profile team of leadersKenyan and French leaders launched Kenya's first Rugby School.

 

The project, which was launched by the French Ambassador in Kenya, His Excellency, Etienne Poncin, is expected to train young boys and girls at the junior level, up to 16 years. The French Embassy supported the improvement of the Sadili rugby pitch, including lights and changing rooms and the training of community rugby coaches, to the tune of Kshs. 2million. The Ambassador said that his country will continue to work with Sadili Oval in the development of sports amongst underprivileged youth, stating that he was satisfied that the funding was utilized well.

In attendance at the occasion were the MP for Langata, Joash Olum and his counterpart for Kibra Constituency, Hon. Kenneth Okoth, who welcomed the partnership, and committed to supporting the project further. Joash Olum further used the opportunity to inform the press that Sadili Oval and Malezi School would soon launch the region's first sports school, that would embrace any sports, and every effort would be made to support this development to improve the livelihoods of the youth, many of whom could benefit financially for the sport.

The Chairman of the Kenya Rugby Football Union, Mr. Mwangi Muthee, reiterated the commitment of his Union to partnering with Sadili Oval, and, saying that he continues to be impressed with the effort that the organization has been making towards the development of rugby in the last 20 years, he said that the KRFU would support Sadili in every way possible to join Upperhill School in Nairobi, as part of their select centres of excellence. He also challenged the MP for Langata to help Sadili seek even more space to extend their pitches to accommodate international matches and training.

On behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, the Commissioner of Sports Mr. Gordon Oluoch sent a special message congratulations to Sadili Oval and partner French Embassy, for launching the first sports school in Kenya, confirming the government's comittment to supporting new and improved systems that will prepare the youth for a great future.

Sadili's Jamin Luvembe Makes A First to Davis Cup From Kibera

Jamin Luvembe becomes the first tennis player from Kibera, Africa's largest slum, to play Davis Cup when he joins the Kenya team in Tunisia on the 1st of July 2012. 

Jamin was called in at the last minute to play trials at Nairobi Club, started out as the underdog, but rallied to win all his group-stage matches, qualifying for the semifinals as a firm candidate, and ending up as the runnerup, and 4th player for the team after Ibrahim Kibet. Other other two positions were not contested for, as KLTA had already selected  Faiz and Ishmael Changawa of Mombasa. Ishmael is currently the best ranked junior and has posted impressive results in ITF tournaments. Jamin, who is a student at Malezi School, started playing tennis at 8 years, when his brother, Francis Isiaho, introduced him to Sadili Oval Sports Academy. His sponsor and coach, Dr. Liz Odera says "this is Jamin's dream starting to come true. He has proved that committment and hard work pays. He still has a lot to do to become the player we hope to see, but this is a great step ib gaining experience, and we are very proud of him". Jamin has been put on standby, as funds are awaited for from the government, according to KLTA, so Kenyans may have to wait a little longer if he doesn't travel. Kenya will be play against some great teams, including Ghana, Nigeria, Tunisia, Benin, Zimbabwe, and Cote d'Ivoire. Kenya has barely managed to stay in Group 3 and it is hoped that, by exposing juniors like Ishmael and Jamin, the experience will pay off in a few years.