Safaricom Chapa Dimba , the grassroots football program that is aimed at discovery and nurturing talent countrywide is not just about football. It is a wholesome initiative with far reaching ripple effects in communities of the areas where it lands, leaving positive effects in its wake. Not just for the players and their immediate families, but also for the local economies in the area.
Let’s have a look at a few examples.
Job creation – Many of the businesses operating around the stadiums and the town as a whole need to employ additional staff to cater for the surge in demand for services. There is also more demand for temporary workforce in services like event planning, cleaning, and security. Even the hotels and other businesspeople in the area and beyond will likely need additional staff. Some of these jobs end up being permanent.
Hospitality – Since participants, supporters and Chapa Dimba officials come from far and wide, there is high demand for hospitality services in the hosting towns. Local entrepreneurs dealing in accommodation, food and transport services get a surge in income as demand for their services spike.
Local culture and heritage – In several of the areas that Safaricom Chapa Dimba has been, there is a strong connection with the local culture and heritage, the most notable being Western Kenya and Nyanza.
Business improvement – For any town, hosting an event like Safaricom Chapa Dimba comes with opportunities for local businesses like event management, outside catering and merchandise dealers to name a few. Hawkers also see an improvement in their sales since they are allowed to sell even inside the stadium as they also enjoy the games. At any given destination, there are many of them selling small items and foodstuff like ground nuts, biscuits and soda.
Local products – Tournament like Chapa Dimba that come calling from outside the area could serve as a platform for locals to showcase their cultural products and crafts. This is a direct benefit to artisans and other crafters. Farmers are also a direct beneficiary of this, especially those who sell produce by the roadside as many visitors stock up on their way back to their home areas.
Infrastructure – There may be need for small infrastructure improvements within and outside the stadium and this not only create jobs, but communities are also left with better sports facilities and other amenities.
Community engagement programs – These are programs mainly by Safaricom that compliment Chapa Dimba. For every area that hosts the tournaments, there are workshops for financial and digital literacy which certainly go a long way in helping local entrepreneurs to manage their resources and better their businesses. This contributes to the overall economic development of the community.
Local media – The local media practitioners from the area get to tell their own stories and also network with others from around the country, and maybe even international. This attention to the host region is a good platform for their growth.