“Before you recommend something, it’s best to try it yourself.” With this motto in mind, Nicola, founder of Play Handball and initiator of COACH ABROAD, packed her rucksack once again. Destination: Kenya. Mission: to visit partner projects, experience training and tournaments, exchange ideas, and gather lots of new impressions that could be crucial for us and our future volunteering programme in sport.
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From Nairobi to Mount Kenya: following in the footsteps of the sports projects
Karibu Kenya – welcome to Kenya! The journey began in Machakos, just south of Nairobi, and continued 250 kilometres into the lush greenery of Meru, on the edge of the Mount Kenya National Park. It then ended in Buruburu, right in the heart of Nairobi, the bustling capital city. Each of these places has its own character, ranging from relaxed country life to the pulsating pace of the big city.
The programme included project and school visits. Between the stages, there were workshops with local partners on the sustainable future of PLAY HANDBALL Kenya, including with the Danish PLAY HANDBALL partner, HANDBALL THAT IMPACTS.
Of course, there was also enough time to explore promising and exciting new projects. These are places where volunteer sports coaches from COACH ABROAD may soon be able to train, sweat and work together with children and young people towards sporting goals. Some of these projects have real potential, and we are excited to see if we will add them on as partner projects in the near future.
Mathare, one of the largest slum areas in Nairobi, also left a profound impression. Despite various aid organisations and initiatives providing direct support on site for many years, the poorest of the poor still live here. They live without access to water or electricity, without a sewage system and are constantly exposed to the risk of epidemics during the rainy season due to the flooding of the Mathare River.
Training, team spirit and first-hand insights
From the sand court in Meru to the handball pitch in Buruburu: Nicola observed young, talented athletes during training, spoke to host families at the kitchen table and exchanged ideas with volunteers from Germany – unvarnished, honest and direct.
These direct conversations are invaluable – they demonstrate the immense value of personal dialogue when volunteering abroad. When you see project work directly on site in Kenya and witness the work at grassroots level, it is clear the impact is immediate. Sports coaches working together with local coaches to promote the sporting and personal development of young people is a game-changer.
This is important not only for COACH ABROAD’s work, but also for supporting the sports projects in Kenya more effectively in the future. This applies to PLAY HANDBALL Kenya, the “Football for a Good” project at the Anganza Sports and Development Centre, and the “Sport for Development” project with HESPO Kenya.
Off-the-pitch adventures
But the trip wasn't just about visiting projects. It was exciting to observe and experience the whole thing. Every route felt like a separate chapter of this adventure, whether in a packed minibus on wooden planks with loud music on the motorway or on a moped through dusty palm and banana groves.
This included travelling from A to B on typical local transport such as boda bodas, meeting up with old friends and chatting with neighbours. Of course, there was also time to go on extended market strolls to buy exotic fruits and fresh food. After all, the best way to enjoy Kenya's delicious cuisine is with music and a barbecue by the roadside or together with friends and the host family. These moments are what make every volunteer placement in Kenya so special. Experiencing culture through all the senses — from the smell of freshly roasted corn on the cob to the rhythms of Kenyan pop music.
Why you should experience Kenya as a volunteer sports coach
With all this, sometimes worlds collide, but often you are closer than you think.
If you have the chance to explore new villages and towns in Kenya, to try street food such as nyama choma or samosas on the roadside, or simply to soak up the smells, sounds and colours: just do it and collect stories for life!
Even if you strike up a conversation with the local people, you’ll always learn something new and have a new, interesting story to tell later. These are the moments that shape you long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase. It is precisely these experiences that will enrich you, not only as a person, but also as a sports coach.
Of course, these are all individual experiences that depend on what you get involved with. However, an open mind and a willingness to experience new things provide the basis for cosmopolitan interaction.
Gather your own impressions in Kenya!
If you are considering volunteering as a sports coach in Kenya, you can look forward to an exciting task in certified social sports projects and a real life-changing adventure. Find out how to apply to COACH ABROAD, or read more about Kenya in our country information, ‘Patchwork Kenya: A travel destination full of traditions and natural wonders‘.
