- Title: Fencing club in Nairobi creates uplifting opportunities for local youths
- Date: 27th December 2023
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (OCTOBER 20, 2023) (REUTERS) VIEW FROM ABOVE OF FENCING STUDENTS IN A STREET OF HURUMA NEIGHBOURHOOD IN NAIROBI VARIOUS OF YOUNG FENCERS ENGAGING IN THE STREET CROWD WATCHING FENCING STUDENTS PRACTICING IN THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) FENCING STUDENT, GRACE ALLEN, SAYING “This sport is very unique. Many people don’t know this sport, unlike football, many people know it.” VARIOUS CROWD WATCHING YOUNG FENCERS IN THE STREET VIEW FROM ABOVE OF FENCERS YOUNG WOMEN WATCHING FROM A BALCONY CHILDREN WATCHING FROM A BALCONY FENCERS WITH PEDESTRIANS WALKING PAST CHILDREN WATCH AS FENCERS WALK DOWN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) FENCING COACH, ISAAC MBURU, SAYING “I never wanted to see any youths in the life that I lived, you understand? That’s why we are going so hard pulling in more youths, just trying to bring them in, and into this safe space, whereby we call it. Because they get mentored." EXTERIOR OF THE ONGOZA NJIA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE VIEW THROUGH A FENCING MASK OF FENCERS FIGHTING AND COACH ISAAC MBURU FENCING COACH ISAAC MBURU TEACHING STUDENTS TIMER FOR BOUTS MBURU COACHING FENCING LESSON FENCING LESSON (SOUNDBITE) (English) FENCING COACH, ISAAC MBURU, SAYING “We really eradicate on that, in paying fees, in giving them the opportunity to fence. So that’s how the fencing mtaani (slang for low income housing estate) was born, mostly to give them the sense of belonging, to give them the sense of: you can come, no matter how expensive the sport is, we’re not going to charge you anything, but we are going to give the space for you to come train, get the opportunities.” VARIOUS OF GRACE ALLEN GETTING DRESSED FOR FENCING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FENCING STUDENT, GRACE ALLEN, SAYING “It has helped me very much because if you look around, there are some girls my age, that are pregnant. Yeah, so if you join in something that is keeping you busy, it will help you not get distracted with some drug abuse, and so, yeah.” VARIOUS OF YOUNG FENCERS IN STREET (SOUNDBITE) (English) FENCING STUDENT, GRACE ALLEN, SAYING “I see myself as a big champion, the greatest fencer, yeah.” VIEW FROM ABOVE OF FENCERS IN STREET RESIDENTS LOOKING FROM BALCONY STREET VIEW OF HURUMA
- Embargoed: 10th January 2024 08:06
- Keywords: Athletics Crime Fencing Kenya Sport Violence Youth education
- Location: NAIROBI, KENYA
- City: NAIROBI, KENYA
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Africa,Fencing,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001157928112023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: It's a busy Friday morning in one of Nairobi's Eastland estates, a sword wielding group from the Tsavora Mtaani Fencing Club brings the streets of Huruma to a standstill. Donned in white, a group of fencers take turns trying to poke or score 'hits' or 'touches' on each other, competing as residents watch on. Aged between 15 to 18 years, the group of 2 girls and 6 boys have been learning and practising fencing since 2021 after they were given space for free. Even though the sport is not popular in Kenya, their aim is to make people aware of it and garner their support.
“This sport is very unique. Many people don’t know this sport, unlike football, many people know it,” a young fencer, Grace Allen said.
Allen took up the sport to keep her busy and away from the streets.
“It has helped me very much because if you look around, there are some girls my age, that are pregnant,” she said.
Their coach, Isaac Mburu, who is also a coach for the Kenyan national fencing side, started the initiative after learning the sport abroad. His aim is to keep youth off the streets and away from crime that almost ended his life.
“I never wanted to see any youths in the life that I lived, that’s why we are going so hard pulling in more youths, just trying to bring them in, and into this safe space, whereby we call it. Because they get mentored," Mburu said.
For the young fencers, their ambition is clear; they want to become champion fencers.
(Production: Nelson Aruya, Catherine Schenck, Mukelwa Hlatshwayo, Sisipho Skweyiya) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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