Barefoot Coaching Fundraiser

The Suba Lakers Co-Founder, Joe Peterson, is truly a coach to the core. After he left his home in Kenya of 11 years, he returned to the U.S. and is now the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Dawson Community College (NJCAA) in Glendive, MT. We are proud to see him continue to create a legacy in the world of coaching, training up young men and being a great example and mentor in their lives; just like he was for the Suba Laker girls for many years.

We are honored he will be participating in BAREFOOT COACHING to raise awareness of the millions of children without shoes around the world. This event is in collaboration with Samaritan's Feet which distributes shoes locally and globally to those in need.

All donations received during this event will be used to help purchase new cleats for the Club and also assist our girls with their cost of their high school education.

If you can't attend the event in person, you can provide a donation online through Hands and Feet, Inc.

GIVE ONLINE TODAY!

 
BAREFOOT FOOTBALL

Soccer cleats in Kenya, are a rare gift. If a school or club can afford cleats, they often go to the boys first. Girls receive hand-me-downs which are often in terrible condition and the wrong size. Most girls throughout rural Kenya play soccer in their bare feet. This is extremely dangerous when pitches are covered in thorns, rocks and other debris. Shortly after the Suba Lakers was formed, the Club saw the need for the girls to learn to wear cleats; called "boots" in Kenya. It was a rough transition as the girls were used to and comfortable in their bare feet. Yet, over time, the girls themselves learned the advantage and benefits of wearing cleats. Today, the girls can't imagine playing without them!

EDUCATION IN KENYA

School in Kenya is not free. The average cost of high school is $400/year, for 1 student. The average income for families in the Mbita area is $800/year. Hence, many families struggle to allow all their children to attend high school. The Suba Lakers officials believe that all girls not only deserve to complete their high school education but that it significantly impacts their future possibilities in life. In Homa Bay County, only 16% of girls finish high school (2013 stats). For the Suba Lakers, our dream is to see each girl finish their high school education. Through the support of sponsors and donors, the Club partners with the girls' families to help pay for their education. Our Sponsor a Girl program permits individuals (or families) to partner with a specific girl and help her complete this dream.

Thank you Uncle Joe (or Coach Pete as they call you in the USA), for contnuing to partner with the Suba Lakers and be a great voice for children and youth in Kenya! We love you!

Go DCC Buccaneers! 

A Note of Thanks for 2016

Giving Hope for a Better Future

Dear Suba Laker Sponsors;                                                                                                                                                                 

Thank you for your partnership in 2016!

The heart behind the mission of Suba Lakers is to ensure that girls are given a chance to continue their education in hopes of having a better future. In Kenya, the new school year began in early January. This year, the Club is supporting 12 of our Suba Lakers in Secondary School; Eunice, Florence, Jecinter, June, Lavenda, Lencer, Lillian, Niphrid, Owiti, Sharon, Siska and Winnie. Many of these girls receive a tuition waiver (full or partial) for being good footballers. However, even for those who receive a tuition waiver, there are still many costs involved with secondary school. The Suba Lakers Club partners with the parents/guardians to assist the girls with some of these costs, including; school supplies, uniforms, transportation, exam fees and personal items.

In November 2016, seven Suba Lakers graduated from Secondary School. A big Congrats to Christine, Faith, Leah, Lorna, Lydia, Purity and Ruth! For each of these girls, the idea of attending and finishing secondary school was only a dream a few years ago. It has not been without struggles, but they made it through.  We are so proud of these girls!

A number of our Suba Laker girls are in college or hoping to start soon. Caren is working towards an Agricultural Diploma at Mawego Technical Institute and is a leading player on the football team. Damaris is working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at the University of Eldoret. Last year, Mary Lucy graduated and is now employed as a Primary School Teacher. Alicent has been accepted to attend Kenya Medical Training College for a Nursing Degree and we are currently fundraising for her tuition.

Your financial partnership is making a difference in the lives of all of these girls.

Beyond the educational component, the goal of the Suba Lakers Club is to provide opportunities for girls to develop their God-given talent in football. In 2016, the club participated in a record-number of competitions. The Football Kenya Federation started regional leagues for ladies all over the country. The Suba Lakers team dominated their regional league and were named the Homa Bay Champs with a 12-0-1 record! They participated in a number of other tournaments and received new uniforms, balls and trophies. 

Thank you for partnering with the Suba Lakers Football Club.

You are helping to bring HOPE to girls, 
for this life and for eternity! 

Gratefully,

The Suba Lakers Football Club

Lilian Joins the Kenya National Team

Lilian Awuor broke down barriers recently and became the first Suba Laker to play for the Kenya Women's National Team!  

After a great 2nd year in Secondary school where she led her team, Nyakach Girls, to the Regional Championship, National Semifinals and all the way to the East African games, Lillian was invited to come to the Harambee Starlets training camp as they prepared for an international match.  She was one of the goalkeepers selected and one of the youngest members to represent the country in matches held in Uganda.  Other Suba Lakers have tried out for the national team at various times, but none of them have had the opportunity to don the Kenyan jersey in an international match.  

Lilian has already traveled with the Harambee Starlets to Uganda and Morocco for various international matches! This is an incredible experience for Lilian. We hope more opportunities will come for her and other Suba Lakers in the future.
 

2016 Kanyakla Tournament on Mfangano Island

We took the ferry across the lake for our next tournament on Mfangano Island. The 2016 Kanyakla Tournament was held at Ramba Primary School from Nov 28-Dec 1. This tournament is sponsored by Organic Health Response – Ekialo Kiona Center which focuses on community health programs on Mfangano Island. The tournament provided many opportutities to learn abut HIV/AIDS awareness.

A number of teams traveled the long distance to attend this tournament, yet the Suba Lakers dominated. We finished the tournament undefeated and did not allow a single goal! We beat City to City Football Club 4-0, then took on Kiziwa FC 2-0. In Semis we met and defeated Dreams FC 5-0. Finally, we wrapped it up with a 3-0 win over Mashambani FC. We received new uniforms, a ball and trophy as the Champions.

Not only did we shine as a team, but many of our players stood out to be among the best. Brenda June and Alicent received the Best Players awards. Our top scorers, with 3 total each, were Lavenda, Emily and Dorothy.

The Kanyakla Program is the world’s first microclinic program for HIV/AIDS. Our approach is to empower rural HIV-affected social networks with training and resources, while improving linkages to care, facilitating confidential HIV status disclosure, and building an enduring social infrastructure to address the social, economic, and environmental factors driving HIV/AIDS.

Senator Otieno Kajwang Tournament

School is out for the year and it's the long Nov/Dec holiday. This means it's football tournament season. Many tournaments are offered during this time of the year and it's a struggle to make it to all of them. One we have attended for many years now is the Senator Otieno Kajwang Tournament on Rusinga Island. This year there were only a few teams entered. 

The Suba Lakers went up against Kayanja ladies from Waondo for the Finals and won 8-0. We received a wonderful prize for first place which included a new uniforms, a nice trophy, a soccer ball and a small cash prize. Since Rusinga island is our "neighbor" we didn't use much money for transport so we shared the cash prize among the girls. Many of them quickly dispersed to the market to buy a special treat.

Maisha League

The Suba Lakers has joined a “first of its kind” Regional Football League for girls.  

The Football Kenya Federation has started regional leagues for Ladies all over the country.  Sponsored by the National Aids Council, it has been named the Maisha League.  Maisha is a Kiswahili word which means “life.”  They are using the league to create awareness on HIV/AIDS Pandemic within the country.  There are 15 teams from the Lake Region who the Suba Lakers are competing with.  The team is made up of mostly primary school players and a few of our top players who have finished secondary school and are waiting to continue their education.  So far, they are undefeated in the seven games in the league, having won six and tied one.  

Update: The club went on to finish the first year of the League as Homa Bay Champs with a record of 12-0-1.

A Coach in the Making

Alicent Awour was one of the very first Suba Lakers. She joined the club in 2009 when she was just 11 years old. She has always had natural talent, a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. After both her parents died by the time she was 8 years old, she went to live with one of her father’s other wives along with her 3 children. She is a bright girl and even at the age of 11 she knew that if she stayed in her home situation, she wouldn’t go far in life. She boldly approached the Club Officials and requested assistance to attend a different school. The club helped to relocate her to Mbita; just 20 minutes from her home, to live with a family and attend a better school. 

After finishing primary school, she attended Jera Secondary School; one of the leading football schools in the region. She helped her team reach the National Tournament in 2013 and in 2014 she was the team Captain. She sustained a major knee injury at Regionals in 2013. Thanks to a few key Suba Laker supporters she was able to have ACL surgery by the end of the year at CURE International Hospital where they have the Region's leading orthopedic doctors. Most of 2014 was a year of rehab for her, but she stuck with it and was able to play again her final year of school. In Nov 2015, Alicent finished secondary school. No small feat for a rural island girl. 

She is currently staying at home during her gap year as she awaits to join college. She is hoping to be accepted into Kenya's Medical Training Institute to study Nursing. Yet, she cannot be idle. She is driven and loves the game of football. She has recently been coaching the girls team for a secondary school near her home where she led the team to the finals at the sub-county tournament. Suba Laker officials were there to watch in awe as she coached, marshaled, and directed the girls from the sidelines. 

What a joy to watch this young lady, now 18 years old, use the skills she gained from Suba Lakers and take the initiative to train up a new generation. We are so proud of the woman she is becoming.