Safaricom Chapa Dimba is more than just football. Beyond the matches and goals, this initiative has created a positive ripple effect that extends far beyond the football field. In this article, we will have a look at other areas that the initiative is impacting and how it is empowering communities to thrive.
Education
One of the aspects I find most beautiful about the Safaricom Chapa Dimba program is the cash prizes that winners and outstanding players are winning, and the fact that they are able to pay their school fees with that money. If we may take a look at just this past weekend, Western region champions Ebwali and Brenda Girls’ have each pocketed Ksh.250,000/- and the runners-up Compel Sportif and Lugari Progressive both pocketed Ksh150,000/- each. With this as an example, the countrywide picture is very big and Chapa Dimba will have contributed immensely to education.
Community engagement
Safaricom has always understood the strength of community and that as a company, it cannot grow without the growth of its customers. With Chapa Dimba, the company is enforcing this by empowering communities through inclusion of medical camps, digital literacy training, financial literacy training and other periphery programs which we will look at as they unfold. By involving young players in these activities, Chapa Dimba is cultivating a sense of responsibility and civic duty. This results in empowered young leaders who actively contribute to their communities’ growth and well-being.
Economic empowerment
Any time there is a major event in an area, there are vast opportunities for entrepreneurs to make more income than they usually do. Safaricom Chapa Dimba for instance has greatly uplifted the people of Western Kenya by giving them business opportunities as suppliers and by providing a platform like around the stadiums to sell their wares. The ripple effect of this is that the whole region will feel the effects of traders having more money in their pockets and the local economies will all benefit from this boom. Safaricom Chapa Dimba has gone a further step and provided training in financial literacy. By nurturing business acumen and fostering an understanding of financial management, the program equips participants with skills that extend well beyond the boundaries of the football field.
Gender Equality and Empowerment
For a sport that is traditionally male, we are now seeing a lot of girls embracing it not just as a simple extra curriculum activity, but as part of competitive sports. In Western Kenya alone which was the first region to host Safaricom Chapa Dimba, we have seen sterling performances from girls’ teams like Chakol Queens, Madira Soccer Assassins, Maroon Queens and Brenda Girls who emerged champions. These are just a few teams who will be leading lights in the region even after Chapa Dimba is over, and their experience is testament to other girls that football can very well be a career path. The fact that Chapa Dimba is bundled with cash prizes, TVET Scholarships and mentorship in other areas adds to the allure of football for girls and proof to parents that the sport is not a waste of time.
Cultural Exchange and Social Cohesion
Outside of the tournaments throughout Western region there were lots of other activities, many of which were unique to the culture and traditions of the people. We saw a lot of fun and dance for instance as Chapa Dimba ushered in the regional finals, and a togetherness of the people that can only be brought by the beautiful energy that comes with football. Through tournaments and events, young players from different regions and communities come together, fostering friendships, cultural exchanges, and a shared sense of identity. Aside from discovering, nurturing and building football stars, Chapa Dimba is doing its part to create a more harmonious society through sport.
The legacy of Safaricom Chapa Dimba serves as a reminder that the power of sports can be harnessed to uplift communities, drive social change, and create a brighter future for our youth.