Mara Youth Development Program
Youth Development Through Sport
Expanding Access, Building Confidence, and Nurturing Potential
Overview
Across many underserved Kenyan communities, young people demonstrate
resilience, discipline, and potential, yet lack early exposure to structured opportunities that
support long-term growth. When designed with care and accessibility, sport can become more than
recreation—it can serve as a trusted entry point for confidence, mentorship, and inclusion.
This initiative uses sport as a foundation for youth development, guided
by principles of ethical design, community trust, and long-term sustainability.
Origins of the Initiative
The foundation of this initiative emerged from sustained on-ground
engagement with youth communities in Nairobi, including Kibera, where limited access to safe
spaces, mentorship, and structured development opportunities often contrasts sharply with the
curiosity and potential shown by young people.
Through consistent interaction with students, volunteers, and community
members, a recurring gap became evident: ability and motivation were present, but exposure,
structure, and opportunity were not. These experiences highlighted how capable youth are often
overlooked—not due to lack of talent, but due to uneven access.
These insights were later reinforced through the work of Zeeshan
Dhakaan, a high school student from Mumbai, India, who interned with Mara
Sports in Nairobi. His approach emphasized observation over assumption and
accessibility over theoretical efficiency. In discussions around digital systems and community
engagement, he consistently raised questions about who solutions truly serve and who they may
unintentionally exclude.
As someone deeply involved in youth sports development in Kenya, these
reflections prompted a broader evaluation of how opportunity is identified and distributed. They
directly contributed to the development of a youth-focused initiative under the Mara
Sports platform, centered on access, inclusion, and long-term growth.
Program Focus Areas
Sport as a Structured Entry Point
Organized sport is used to cultivate discipline, teamwork, resilience, and
self-belief—skills that extend beyond athletics into education and community life.
Mentorship and Guidance
Participants are supported through mentorship that encourages responsibility,
confidence, and long-term aspiration, rather than short-term performance alone.
Accessibility by Design
The program prioritizes inclusion for youth with limited prior exposure,
ensuring systems are designed for usability, familiarity, and trust—not exclusion.
Community-Led Sustainability
Local coaches, families, and community leaders play a central role in shaping
and sustaining the initiative, ensuring cultural relevance and continuity.
Guiding Philosophy
Effective youth development does not begin with solutions—it
begins with listening.
This initiative is guided by the belief that meaningful impact arises
when systems are designed with humility, ethical consideration, and respect for lived
experience. The goal is not only to identify potential, but to create environments where young
people feel seen, capable, and supported.
Looking Ahead
Mara Sports aims to strengthen this initiative through
expanded mentorship networks, deeper community partnerships, and scalable models that remain
grounded in local leadership.
This program reflects a commitment to evaluating opportunity through the
lens of access, responsibility, and long-term impact.
Get Involved
There are many ways to support this initiative, including mentorship,
partnerships, and community collaboration.
Lasting impact begins with care, context, and consistency.
Attribution
This initiative was developed following reflections from on-ground youth
engagement in Kibera and the youth-centered, accessibility-focused philosophy demonstrated
by Zeeshan Dhakaan during his work with Mara Sports.
-
2nd floor, Park suites, 44 parklands road, Nairobi
-
+254 101 262626
Newsletter Signup
