"Before, I could do a little work and get tired. Now there are changes. I feel fit and I will not stop. At 72, Ann Wanjugu credits soccer with transforming her physical capabilities and energy levels, demonstrating the profound health benefits the sport provides to older participants."
"It was just organic. Miriam Wangui describes how the grandmother's soccer team emerged spontaneously when the women arrived at her training center one Friday requesting their own team, highlighting how community initiatives can develop naturally from genuine grassroots interest and participation."
"No uniforms, no proper boots. Just grandmothers and teenagers shaping each other one sprint, one laugh, one first at a time. The program emphasizes informal, authentic intergenerational connection through shared activities, prioritizing meaningful relationships over formal structure or equipment."
A group of grandmothers in central Kenya spontaneously formed a soccer team at a training center founded by Miriam Wangui, a former UN humanitarian worker. The oldest member, 72-year-old Ann Wanjugu, credits the sport with transforming her physical fitness and energy levels. Beyond soccer, the grandmothers mentor teenagers at the center's beauty school, creating meaningful intergenerational connections. The initiative operates informally without uniforms or professional equipment, focusing on building relationships and shared experiences. The program demonstrates how community-driven activities can foster health, hope, and mentorship across age groups.
#intergenerational-mentorship #community-sports-initiative #womens-empowerment #health-and-fitness #kenya
Read at www.npr.org
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