Oct
Our Kid FC
Written by ShikoEver wondered what bloggers do in their other lives?
Meet Our Kid. When he’s not doing his day job or spreading craziness on blogosphere, he’s running OUR KID FOUNDATION, a charitable trust formed with the intent of nurturing friendships among kids and bringing communities together through them and their parents.
According to the organization’s website, the Foundation was formed with the intent to use the world’s most popular sport, football, among young members of the community to develop solid friendships and enhance peace in their neighbourhoods irrespective of the various social, religious and ethnic backgrounds. The organization has a membership of over 150 kids who play organized soccer under a qualified coach.
I stumbled upon this information almost by accident when I needed Our Kid to run an errand for me in Nairobi and he informed me that at that time he was engaged in football training. To say I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the organization is an understatement.
Says Our Kid, ‘the idea was born when I had gone to Kibera with what one may consider a privileged kid whom I mentor and he saw some kids playing football. The boy asked me if he could join them and I allowed him to. After he was done playing, he suggested that we help out his new friends who didn’t even have football boots or proper balls’.
The rest as they say is history.
‘There was overwhelming interest by the kids and now we have 150 members who have completed registration and more have applied. We have a few volunteers who man the small office we opened. Having seen the kind of work that they have been able to do, it is quite impressive and I’m certain that this organization is going places’.
In summary,
- The kids are mentored by speakers who visit the training grounds or join in tours to talk to them.
- All kids maintain a journal and can write about anything though sometimes they get written assignments
- They have taken part in football tournaments and visited parts of Nairobi that most underprivileged kids only hear of, despite the fact that they are from Nairobi.
Change in the kids is noticeable and this is what one parent had to say during an Open Day, ‘when your son says he wants to help out in the chores because he appreciates the things you do for him, that counts for something. Who would have imagined that joining a football club would make him do that’!
Our Kid is philosophical about it, ‘I may not change the world’, he says, ‘but if I can get to make over 150 of our kids happy knowing that they have an opportunity to do what they love – which is playing football, then that makes me happy’.
True he may not change the world, but some of the kids are changing and it shows.
Well well. The guy is not so crazy after all.
By Loco on Oct 6, 2009
There is no such thing as changing the world, there is only changing what you can, and for damn sure there are some happy children somewhere out there tonight because of OKFC. This deserves a woop woop, we should see more of these! A superb endeavour indeed.
By Tamaku on Oct 6, 2009
This is the stuff that gives meaning to living. I’ll check out the site and thanks for sharing.
By Kelvin on Oct 7, 2009
Wow this is very touching.
@Our Kid: how can I help?
Thanks for sharing Shiko
By Mama Shujaa on Oct 8, 2009
Wow. Kudos to Our Kid! I too will check out the site. I am a serious soccer mom here in Atl and there is always room to share/exchange ideas. Thanks Shiko!!
By BP 1 on Oct 8, 2009
That’s a noble task indeed. I wish our leaders could borrow a leaf from Our kid and come up with such projects. @ Our Kid Congratulation!!!!! You have changed the world, si some Kids are smiling; to them their world has changed. Shiko Asante, for keeping us informed.
By Maya on Oct 8, 2009
A worthy cause by all standards!!
Well done Our Kid!!
By boyfulani on Oct 8, 2009
good stuff!
By Our Kid on Oct 8, 2009
Aaaaaw Shiko. You really went and done this!
Hey guys thanks for your kind comments. I think am still crazy though. I like crazy.
By Sleek on Oct 8, 2009
spreading the love…really noble guy that one. let me scoot over to his joint. now tell us about a blogger who doubles as a stripper so that we line up for discounts
By shikomsa on Oct 9, 2009
Thanks people for all your responses. It’s a good thing Our Kid also passed by here to pick his Accolades. Way to go Our Kid!
Sleek that’s my new project. Looking for stripper bloggers! Lolest! I’ve a feeling that’s gonna be a difficult one.
By savvy on Oct 12, 2009
Our Kid, much respect. I admire you.
By Kei on Oct 16, 2009
Did somebody say Our Kid also strips? Well… anything for a good cause, I guess.
By shikomsa on Oct 16, 2009
KK he strips too? That I didn’t know. Lol #howrumoursgetstarted.
By Gladys on Oct 20, 2009
Our crazy Kid thats some mad inspiration and challenge to the rest of us
id love to watch your kids play sometime
By Gladys on Oct 20, 2009
Ps. Did i hear something about OurKid stripping?
Well…if it’s for a good cause i’ll be sure to come for your show too
By Our Kid on Oct 21, 2009
Wah wah. I would strip for Charity… er… charity.
Gladys…and anyone who would love to see the kids play… yes get in touch. Write to info@ourkidfc.com
By Gladys on Oct 21, 2009
Now that would be tricky if u only strip for Charity…unless i change my name
I’ll mail you asap
By farmgal on Oct 27, 2009
This is very touching…good one Our kid
By shikomsa on Oct 30, 2009
Hey Charity 1 (Gladys), Charity 2 (Farmgal). How things change! From soccer to stripping thats quite a wide mile in the space of just one article. I’ve a feeling we’ll get complimentary tickets to the strip show.
By Gladys on Nov 3, 2009
Lets wait and see
By wanjiku-unlimited » Blog Archive » Return Of The Mojos. on Mar 31, 2010
[...] This blog goes dry for months and when the blogger’s brains are finally up and about what does he come up with? Soft porn. The crazy kid documents his sex life. Or lack thereof. Welcome back to blogosphere. No thanks. I aint taking that route. But despite all his madness, I still bless him for works like this. [...]
By Our Kid on Jun 20, 2011
Someone stumbled upon this and e-mailed me and now we got some donations of footballs, jerseys et al. Thanks again.
By Shiko-Msa on Jun 20, 2011
Alar Our Kid. Kumbe something was to come out of this article.Congrats!
By woolie on Aug 4, 2011
Great stuf -well done Our Kid, and all those that you have inspired tp participate or to donate. Well done Shiko for sharing with the rest of us. Best of all it is times likes these that Blogging proves itself…….
By Shiko-Msa on Aug 29, 2011
True that Woolie. Thanks for sharing in this proud moment.