The SHAMAS Rugby Foundation is an organization that aims to use rugby to promote the physical, psychological, social and academic development of boys and girls living in urban slums and rural areas in Nairobi, Kenya. While their goals are to make all-rounded rugby players, they also aim to make Secondary School education attainable for children from disadvantaged families as well as to impact character and resilience-building skills to children and youth from Nairobi Slum areas as well as to improve the well-being and economic strength of the families they work with. However, with the recent outbreak in Kenya, the coronavirus has brought up additional hardships for these struggling families. And because of the need for social distancing, the SHAMAS Rugby Foundation has been forced to cease activities. Whereas before, some of these kids depended on SHAMAS to provide one meal regularly during their practices.  As even before the virus outbreak these families struggled every day to meet their basic needs, which is even more difficult now with movement restrictions. 

All donations received will go directly to the SHAMAS foundation. The foundation is purchasing food hampers in order to distribute food to these families in need.  The 2,000 dollars raised will be able to feed 100 families for 3-weeks. This is so to enable these families to stay home as required to prevent further risk of spreading the virus in the crowded slum area where many among the population are vulnerable.

I would like to raise these funds as soon as possible as the infection rate within Nairobi, Kenya is expected to peak by sometime in mid-April. However, even funds received later than mid-April will still be put to good use by providing food to needy families because this situation will take months to resolve.

As a rugby player, I’ve had the opportunity to practice with and compete against the SHAMAS players. They're hard-working kids just like me,  and they play this contact sport with limited gear; barefoot, no mouthguard, and other equipment that we take for granted. These kids are smart and just have been born into poverty and they deserve the chance to thrive, and with the corona outbreak already affecting their schools, work opportunities for their parents, I feel that supporting these kids is important for Kenya’s future as these kids are potential future leaders for Kenya. I mean people who play rugby are tough, resilient, and display amazing characteristics of leadership. Even when the SHAMAS kids are playing games in these wealthy schools, they don’t ask for anything. They are polite, respectful, humble and show values of what it means to be a good sportsperson. So with the funds provided it would really mean a lot to me. With 2,000 dollars, SHAMAS  can provide 3-weeks of food supplies to 100 families which absolutely amazing.  So please spread the word because anything that even goes over 2,000 dollars can go so far.

Check out more at http://srf.co.ke/index.php/pages/home

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