Talanta Africa Football Academy
Five years ago, we teachers in our community of Kasarani noticed that children and youth were greatly affected by the challenges of poverty, including drug abuse, school drop-outs, early pregnancies and a general feeling of hopelessness. We realized we had to do something quickly to bring back hope, especially for orphans and children from broken families. What started as a football academy to offer an alternative to life on the streets has grown into a community-based non-profit organization that provides education opportunities,high skilled and personal mentorship to hundreds of young people.
Sammy Kamau, Eric Ochieng ‘, Judith Akoth
Our Work on the 3 main pillar..
skills development
We engage with at-risk children and youth through a football ministry, featuring coaching and teamwork, to provide an alternative to street-life while building skills for a successful future.
Hold football drills, skills training and friendly matches in the community as positive after-school activities.
Organize field trips and exposure matches in larger cities.
Require children to avoid drugs and stay in school in order to participate in TAFA, a strategy that has had great success!
Develop football talent with the goal of some youth playing in major leagues in Kenya and the world.
Provide training in computer usage, programming and repair; employment and entrepreneurship skills; personal financial management and life skills.
Train our youths skills in videography graphic design and photography.
academic excellence
We provide scholarships for high school and university students, while supporting children and youth with academic tutoring, mentorship, and training in entrepreneurial and job skills.
Contribute to tuition and living expenses for secondary and university students from Kasarani who are orphans or whose parents cannot afford tuition.
Provide academic mentorship, tutoring and homework help.
Equip and operate TAFA Community Center as a library, computer room and safe-space for students to work.
behaviour change
We tackle brokenness in children and youth through a comprehensive mentorship program including coaching, Bible-based life skills, home visits, peer-education and a safe place to call “home”.
Adopt a “fatherhood” approach incorporating counseling, encouragement and emotional support.
Provide spiritual nurture through youth-led Bible studies and outreaches that teach life skills while walking with God.
Care for those struggling with addiction through peer educator training, home visits and a “safe place” during recovery.
Provide mentorship in business and entrepreneurship to see youth realize economic sustainability.
Our Leadership Team
Sammy
Erick
Judy
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TAFA Founder & Programs Director
Like the other two TAFA leaders, Sammy grew up in poverty in the village of Kasarani. He had a Mom who always believed in him, and overcame many challenges, becoming head of students in his high school and gaining a teaching certificate TSC No. 715528/Y and with a focus on psychology in college. Sammy taught in the local primary school for over 10 years, and his experience with children, along with his passion for seeing those from dysfunctional, addicted families be given the chance to grow and thrive, led him to form TAFA an idea that he kept alive. He was volunteering his time to coach, guiding and mentoring, obtaining certification as a coach with CAF C certificate with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Federation International of Football Association (FIFA), leading Bible-Based Life Skills sessions, and supporting other aspects of TAFA’s work.
He explains: “Disadvantaged young people need a place that they can call their own - a place where football skills can be nurtured and their talent exposed to the world . . . a place where coaches are like fathers and have time to spend time with these kids, listening to them as they express their thoughts. That place is TAFA.”
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Missions & Spiritual Nurture Director
Eric brings to TAFA his management experience from his role as a supervisor at a flower farm near Kasarani, where he manages 162 people. When TAFA was only a year old, Eric’s home became the meeting place for all TAFA’s activities. He was later asked to become both team photographer and doctor at all TAFA matches. Eric’s heart was deeply touched by the death of a boy from the community who had slipped through the cracks, spurring him to deepen his involvement with TAFA, hoping that such a tragedy would never happen again in Kasarani.
Eric studied information technology, and brings this knowledge to teach computer skills to vulnerable children at the TAFA community center. He also runs all of TAFA’s Bible studies, experiencing great joy from ministering God’s word to children. He says, “My heart melted, and I found my passion ministering God’s word to children and nourishing them spiritually. I strongly feel that this is my calling in TAFA.”
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Girls Empowerment Director
Judith is a mother of four children, one boy and three girls. She grew up in poverty, regularly walking barefoot to school while hungry, sharing responsibility with her parents for raising her younger children. But she endured and overcame much hardship because of her strong faith.
While working in the community, Judith noticed the prevalence of early pregnancy and forced sex that many girls endured as a matter of course. She organized seminars for girls, trying to help them understand that their future can be bright, no matter their current situation, as long as they work hard on their education. Judith has become a strong advocate for women, a trait she brings to her role at TAFA, where she leads girls programming and serves as a mentor for the many girls who have recently joined TAFA. She explains, “I joined TAFA because of my passion for preventing early pregnancy, and to give girls hope and raise them in a Christian way.”
Our achievements….
TAFA is thrilled to announce our incredible achievements in providing educational opportunities to children in need. This is among the 3 pillars that TAFA is made up of. Through the generous support of our donors and friends of TAFA, we have been able to sponsor 41 children to attend secondary school and 15 to attend Loldia Primary School. Additionally, we are proud to share that 9 students will be pursuing higher education at college and university by the end of 2024. In addition, we have TAFA boys interning in Hong Kong at Crossroads! It's fantastic to see them gaining valuable experience and representing TAFA on a global scale. This is surely a great opportunity for them to grow both personally and professionally. It's always inspiring to witness such achievements within the community they come from. Thanks to the unwavering dedication of our supporters. These achievements highlight the transformative power of education and the positive impact it has on the lives of young individuals. We are immensely grateful for the ongoing support that enables us to make such a profound difference in the lives of these children. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for the next generation.
It's wonderful to have you on board to help make a positive impact on the lives of the TAFA kids. Your willingness to contribute and be part of something meaningful is truly inspiring. Together, we can make a difference and bring hope to these children. Your support is a beacon of light in their lives, and your dedication will help create a brighter future for them. Thank you for joining us on this journey to provide love, care, and support to these amazing kids. Welcome to the team anytime.
In a gentle way, TAFA is shaking the world.
Contact
Please send an email to the address below or use the form on the right to contact us.
Donations made through this website are processed through Talanta Africa Fund, our American partner, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Talanta Africa Fund can be reached by email at info@talantaafrica.org.
