Hundreds of learners from three public schools in Kericho converged at Highlands Primary for the second ‘Enabling Leadership Play League Day,’ where 26 teams faced off in football matches designed to build leadership, teamwork, discipline, and essential life skills.
Boys and girls from Highlands, Keongo, and Kerego primary schools played together in mixed-gender teams, with the top eight teams set to advance to the regional finals scheduled for the next school holiday in Kericho.
The programme, which is in its first year in Kericho, has made the county the second after Nairobi to benefit from the initiative, bringing together Grade Four boys and girls in mixed-gender teams to develop teamwork, discipline, confidence, communication, problem-solving, time management and responsible decision-making skills through specially designed football games.
Enabling Leadership Kenya Country Head Ms. Paramita Mukherjee told the Kenya News Agency that the programme complements classroom learning by helping learners identify challenges, consider possible solutions, take action, and reflect on the results.
Ms. Mukherjee further said the learners take part in 48 sessions annually, with each 90-minute session combining football activities with reflection and discussions that encourage them to think before acting and understand the consequences of their decisions.
“For this tournament, although individual matches produced winners, the competition forms part of a league in which teams earn cumulative points, with the top eight teams among the 26 participating sides set to advance to the Regional Finals scheduled for October,” explained Ms. Mukherjee.
She assured that Enabling Leadership had plans to expand EL Play to more schools across the country, having so far introduced the programme in schools in Kericho and Nairobi, where it has been operating successfully.
“The programme has enabled learners to become more confident, communicate better, work effectively with others and develop a positive attitude towards learning and personal responsibility, as demonstrated during debrief sessions where they reflect on their performance, share feedback on the matches and discuss how they can improve,” explained Ms Mukherjee.
According to Enabling Leadership Programme Associate Dominic Kiplangat, the programme has improved learner participation in class and academic performance by providing opportunities for children to play, interact, and develop skills outside the classroom.
Keongo Primary and Junior Secondary School Head Teacher, Philemon Rono, said teachers had observed improved individual effort, teamwork, coordination, time management, and academic performance among learners participating in the programme.
Meanwhile, Enabling Leadership Chief Impact Officer Ms. Soujanya Jandhyala reiterated that the organization aims to equip children with leadership and life skills that can help them succeed in education and become responsible adults.
“Enabling Leadership is a global non-profit organization that currently reaches about 10,000 children aged between 11 and 15 years in India, Cambodia, Singapore and Kenya through EL Play, which uses football, EL Create, which uses music, and EL Build, which uses building blocks and science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership skills,” Ms. Jandhyala said.
Also present at the tournament were Enabling Leadership Kenya Programme Manager for Kericho Henry Ojwang, Kenya Operations Manager Emmanuel Obonyo, programme associates Edward Muchiri and Drusilla Chepkemoi, Kerego Primary School Head Teacher Mr. David Chepkwony among others.
By Kibe Mburu
