Kenyan football league empowers girls with life skills and leadership

Moving the Goalposts (MTG) organized a grassroots football league for girls across the Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa, and Tana River counties in Kenya.

The organization launched the 2026 Grassroots League in March to provide a space where girls can build friendships and discover their potential beyond daily household chores. The program combines sports with life skills development and education on sexual and reproductive health. Participants in the league take on diverse roles including coaches, referees, first aiders, and peer educators.

These positions allow the girls to create and sustain opportunities for others in their communities. One participant, Ethel Haido Komora, reported that the program helped her find her voice and build the confidence necessary to become the Deputy President of her school. The league season concludes with the 2026 MTG Champions League running from 10 to 26 November. This tournament serves as a pathway for girls to move from grassroots participation to higher levels of competition and talent identification.

The organization will also use the Kilifi County finals on 21 November to pre-launch a celebration of its 25 years of work in girls' empowerment.