Kilifi County government shall roll out programs and initiatives aimed at assisting women and girls in the county.
Kilifi Deputy Governor Flora Chibule said programs such as the Mbegu Fund will not only target groups and youths but will be intensified to enlist programs undertaken by young girls so that they can invest and improve on their lives.
The deputy governor was speaking at Moving The Goal Post(MTG) offices in Mnarani where she visited to congratulate MTG United FC which has now been enlisted among teams to take part in the Women’s Premier League.
“As a county government, we want to embark on the stories of change especially on our girls. There has been hue and cry over the increasing cases of girls becoming young mothers at a tender age. We want to give them hope through different intiatives,” she said.
Among the interventions the county wants to make on these girls is by giving them another chance in school and also enabling them to join technical institutions (TVET) where they can horn their skills even after becoming young mothers.
“The county is planning to build a sports and entertainment center to tap into the talents of our youths. Once they encounter challenges such as early pregnancy we shall take them back to school after birth, and give them bursaries to complete their studies. With those interventions, the story of our girls in Kilifi shall change,” she said.
Ms Chibule who is now the patron of MTGP said she will make sure that the organization comes up with more sporting activities other than football so as to open more scope for benefit of the lads.
“Because the demands of our girls is immense, we shall continue to scout for more other donours to support this program so that it opens more opportunities for the girl child to benefit. I know this organization has driven its face to the world through football but we can also tap into other areas of sports and nurture even more talents,” she said.
MTGP director Dorcas Amakobe said the organization has assisted thousands of girls, many of them from poor families, giving them a new lease on life.
“We discovered that some of the girls had good playing skills in football but could not continue after facing difficulties in their early life. They would be stranded at home which affected their lives. But with this program, many girls have benefited, some having gone back to school through this program. It has assisted many of them,” she said.
Some of the beneficiaries of the program include Mbeyu Akida now playing her football in Greece after moving from Turkey where she was playing her professional football.
“Ms Akida who hails from Kibarani near Kilifi town was among the first beneficiaries of the program. She started her career in this institution but now plays international soccer. She is currently in Greece after several years of playing professional football in Turkey. She is an inspiration to many of our girls here,” she said.
Ms Amakobe further said that another player from the team is currently playing international football in Tanzania.
“We have another player who was recently poached to Tanzania where she is now plying her trade there. She is a product of MTGP. So there are dreams that have been achieved and with more support from the county government and other donors, we shall be able to assist many of our girls,” she said.
MTGP team coach Fathime Tibu said their team will now be playing in the women’s premier league, a step she said was because of commitment the young girls have, considering their difficult backgrounds.
“We are now playing in the premier league. It has not been easy but our girls are committed to making sure that we meet our targets in life despite difficulties,” she said.
Ms Thime called on the county government to lend a hand and assist the team she said was a pride of Kilifi.
“Support us and we shall not let you down. The journey ahead is full of success but it will be very important for you to assist us along the way,” she said.
