Path to Russia Uses Sports to Unite Communities, Nurture Talent and Fight Youth Drug Abuse

By Monyonge O’kebati & Evans Mutinda

A Kenya-based non-governmental organisation, Path to Russia, is expanding its community programmes through sports, education and humanitarian initiatives aimed at promoting unity, nurturing talent and giving young people alternatives to drug abuse and idleness.

The organisation brought together 12 hockey teams for a community tournament at Lenana School in Dagoreti, in an event sponsored by Path to Russia and New Formation.

Speaking during a community sports event at Lenana Playgrounds in Dagoreti on Sunday, coordinator  Eric Ochieng said the organisation conducts monthly activities aimed at bringing communities together while supporting vulnerable households and local initiatives.

Ochieng said the programmes combine humanitarian support with sporting activities, giving residents an opportunity to interact, build social connections and identify emerging talent among young people.

“We normally conduct this as a way of getting the community together, as a way of bringing people together for harmony and solidarity,” Ochieng said.

He said Path to Russia works with local community groups and organisations involved in humanitarian programmes to ensure that assistance reaches vulnerable households while young people are given opportunities to participate in constructive activities.

The organisation has also partnered with Peji’s Academy, an initiative that mentors and supports children through hockey and other sporting activities.

According to Ochieng, the partnership seeks to provide young people with an environment where they can develop their sporting skills, gain confidence and participate in organised competitions.

“We partner with local organisations to support them and also make the community know that the programme we are having with the community is also for the larger community,” he said.

Path to Russia Chairperson Charity Mwongeli Mueni said the organisation, which was established in April 2022, has been using sports and community programmes to bring together vulnerable groups while creating opportunities for young people.

She said the organisation began with football activities in Kibera, where it brought together vulnerable members of the community, including young mothers, and rewarded participants while motivating talented individuals to pursue opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings.

According to Mueni, Path to Russia has since expanded its activities to include football, chess and hockey, while also supporting education and digital skills among young people.

The organisation has, for example, provided laptops to students in Kibera and introduced them to online work opportunities to enable them to earn income during school holidays.

Mueni said the organisation has identified promising talent in football and hockey and is exploring ways of giving talented young people exposure beyond Kenya, including opportunities to travel to Russia.

“We have discovered some talents, especially for football, and also today for hockey we have seen groups which have performed so well,” she said, adding that the organisation has plans to sponsor talented players to showcase their abilities abroad.

Mueni said sports are also helping young people stay away from drug abuse and other activities associated with idleness.

She said bringing young people together, identifying their abilities and giving them something constructive to pursue has helped create hope and motivation among participants.

“Drugs have damaged a lot of young people, but bringing them together and showing them that they have talent, we nurture them and they can do better tomorrow,” she said.

The organisation has also worked with schools, including Kibera Girls, where it has interacted with young mothers who continue with their education despite having children.

Mueni said the programme seeks to encourage such girls to remain focused on their education and talents rather than viewing motherhood as the end of their aspirations.

Path to Russia says its ambitions extend beyond Nairobi, with plans to eventually take its programmes to all 47 counties before expanding internationally.

Mueni said the organisation is keen to demonstrate to young people across Kenya that talent can provide opportunities for a better future.

She also confirmed that the organisation’s connection with Russia is not merely symbolic, saying there are plans to identify the most promising talent and eventually facilitate opportunities for them to gain exposure in Russia.

However, she said such plans require proper identification, preparation and planning before participants can be taken abroad.

The tournament also highlighted the growing interest in hockey, particularly among young people in Nairobi.

Mr. Eddy Odhiambo, a Lenana hockey coach who also coaches Black Tigers in the National League and runs Edzokia Academy, said hockey in the area has developed significantly.

He said the academy has different age categories, ranging from under-9 to under-15, providing a pathway for young players to develop their skills from an early age.

According to the coach, the area recently produced six players who represented the country in Hockey Fives, an indication of the growing talent base.

He, however, noted that the development of women’s hockey faces challenges, including difficulties for some parents in allowing girls to train in open public spaces, particularly when training sessions extend into the evening.

He also pointed to the high cost of hockey equipment as one of the major obstacles facing grassroots development.

Unlike football, which requires relatively minimal equipment for informal participation, hockey requires sticks, protective gear, goalkeeper equipment and other specialised items.

Odhiambo said sponsorships such as the support provided for the Lenana tournament can help bridge the equipment gap and give grassroots players a better opportunity to develop.

He said early investment in young players is important because it creates a stronger foundation for talent development before athletes reach high school or elite levels.

Players from Wangdu Social Hockey Club said sports have also helped them build friendships, develop discipline and avoid idleness.

The club, which was officially formed in March last year after members initially played under another team, brings together players interested in hockey development and social interaction.

One of the players said hockey provides an avenue for young people to remain active and mentally engaged instead of becoming vulnerable to drugs and other negative influences.

The team reached the semi-finals of the tournament before being eliminated through shootouts, but players said they valued the experience and the opportunity to compete against other clubs.

The tournament also provided a platform for young female hockey players to appeal to parents, guardians and other stakeholders to support girls pursuing sporting careers.

Players from Academy Club, a relatively new women’s team, said they are recruiting more players while seeking to develop the club into a fully established team with different categories.

The players, who include university students and school leavers, said hockey requires passion, commitment and consistent training.

They also acknowledged that the cost of equipment and transport can make participation difficult for some young women.

They urged parents and guardians to support children pursuing sporting talent by helping them access training, transport and basic protective equipment such as playing shoes, socks and shin guards.

The players said continued training would help them improve and become more competitive.