‘She Leads’ Nasio Girls Football Programme
In rural Kenya, too many girls lack access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information. Cultural taboos mean these topics are rarely discussed, contributing to high rates of teenage pregnancy, HIV, and gender-based violence, impacting girls’ quality of life and educational outcomes leading to school drop-out.
At our Medical centre alone, 389 teenage pregnancy cases were recorded in the last five years, with around 22 new cases per week across the wider region. To address this, The Nasio Trust launched a peer-led education programme in 2018, reaching 20 schools and 15,000 young people, and helping reduce teenage pregnancy by more than 60%.
However, not all girls feel comfortable learning in classroom settings, so we developed new, safe and stigma-free ways to reach them.
However, not all girls feel comfortable learning in classroom settings, so we developed new, safe and stigma-free ways to reach them.
The Solution: She Leads Football Programme
She Leads Football Programme launched in May 2025 as a new way to give girls a safe, supportive space to learn and grow. The football pitch becomes a place where girls develop confidence, resilience, and leadership while learning about sexual and reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, consent, boundaries, nutrition, communication, and self-advocacy.
Each participating school nominates two teachers to be trained as coaches and mentors. After a three-day training, they run daily sessions, ensuring the programme is locally led and sustainable.
Football drills are linked to real-life lessons, for example:
- Split Second Decision: understanding risky vs safe choices through a penalty shoot-out
- Risky Rondo: how infections spread and how to protect yourself
- Support and Succeed: the importance of supportive relationships, demonstrated through
team passing and assisting goals
To strengthen long-term impact and reduce stigma, we also involve parents through Positive Parenting sessions, which cover the same topics as the girls. This encourages open conversation
at home and wider community support for girls’ education and wellbeing.
Impact So Far
- 20 local coaches trained and supporting 10 girls’ teams
- Over 300 girls aged 12–18 attending regular football and life-skills sessions in a safe,
stigma-free environment
Our Goal
To improve the educational, health, and social wellbeing of girls aged 12–18 in Mumias West by using football as a platform for learning, reducing teenage pregnancy, and supporting girls to
stay in school.
Our aim is to improve girls’ health, confidence, and educational outcomes by combining football with life-skills learning. We track progress through surveys and local health data over six to
twelve months.
Girls taking part show stronger understanding of sexual and reproductive health, reduced risk of teenage pregnancy and HIV, and are more likely to stay in school. They also gain confidence,
leadership skills, and improved emotional wellbeing, helping them grow into healthier, happier young women who can shape positive futures for themselves and their communities.
For just £20 per girl per year, She Leads Nasio Girls Football gives girls a safe space to learn, build confidence, and stay in school reducing teenage pregnancy and helping them shape brighter futures.
