In rural Kenya, where agriculture is the backbone of daily life, George Osoya has found an extraordinary way to unite farming and football to empower his community. Through his organization, Football Without Borders, George is leveraging the universal appeal of the beautiful game to educate young people about sustainable farming practices while fostering teamwork, leadership, and opportunity. This innovative approach not only nurtures talent on the pitch but also equips youth with essential agricultural skills, blending two vital pillars of the community to cultivate a brighter future.
Bonito: Welcome to the Bonito Platform George- Tell us about how your passion for football began and how you were captivated to explore the ways the game could bring about positive changes for society?
George: My passion for football began during my younger days, I used to carry one of those polythene cover balls around with strings five to ten going to school. We had an evening league from grade four to eight and I was the only person with the ball! Those kids were more physically advanced than me but luckily as the only one with a ball they had to let me play- no Geroge=No Ball! So it was forcing them to give me a chance to play even though I wasn’t a good footballer. Coming to secondary school now I started playing with a real ball and this was due to my brother Josky who was a goalkeeper in the top team in Kenya premier league called Sony Sunger, I gained confidence and wanted to join the top leagues too. After my high school I went for trial and I signed my first ever contract with KCB Club. Before the leagues fixture you have friendly matches and that’s where I began to carry the dream of playing as a national or professional player. Sadly, I got a very serious injury the MCL and ACL were damaged, I came back home and founded an organization call Society Empowerment Project who gave me another life after sports.
Bonito: When one door closes another opens! You have been around the football world all of your life- why do you think football evokes such powerful sentiments with such a broad range of people all over the world?
George: It’s a very entertaining tool and brings joy, fun and love. It’s the only method that I know where every person follows either victory or loss with conversation and a feeling of togetherness. I think because it brings so many people together, giving the information is very easy. It is only culture and a unique way of giving feedback to every culture.
Bonito: Tell us about Football without Borders Kenya- how did it start?
George: Football without borders-Kenya is a community based organization that uses the power of football to mobilize youth, empower and skill develop them in the areas of agriculture, education, female empowerment, afforestation, WASH, Health and Football for Life. We are also large on teaching our young ones life skills every opportunity we get because we believe self-development equals community development.
As of 2021, we are working with 25 schools and with 8 zones .
Bonito: Could you tell us a bit more about your main programs?
George: Of course, let me list them:
FOOTBALL 4 AGRICULTURE – For a while now we have been running Football 4 Agribusiness where we encourage our communities to engage in modern and sustainable farming through sporting activities. Through the program we have created the Young Farmer Club and organized one-day tournaments and workshops in this regard. Football without Borders Kenya aim has always been to eradicate poverty and hunger and bring food security starting with the family unit. By encouraging and supporting our young ones to engage in agricultural activities at home we ensure that every one of our members and their families can cater for their immediate basic needs especially food. Read more about it here, its really our flagship program!
FWB ACADEMY- FWB Academy aims at supporting the development of the most talented players in communities who are selected to enter the academy. The program works to support the players in Football Without Borders. The most talented players from the Football Without Borders develop their education, life skills in addition to the sport skills. Currently, the academy only runs boys under 13 years football but this is an area that we want to expand and also open a girls academy.
EDUCATION- We have made large strides in ensuring our youth stay focused on their studies even when they are away from school. We so far have books and even laptops to ensure holistic learning. We know and appreciate the importance of a library in building and sustaining a healthy community. Our community library ensures that there is a balance Between sports, impacting of life skills and education. The presence of the library has ensured after school reading programs and preparation for exams.
LIFE ON THE BALL- FWB-K has over time found a way to integrate Football and Natural learning in a 20 minute small-sided match with no referees. Within this exciting Football match questions of the day are placed in corners to be opened, reflected on and answered at particular times of the match. Active learning beats all forms of learning as students get involved, engaged and work together to solve a problem. We have successfully integrated this concept in agriculture, female empowerment and afforestation.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT– Menstrual hygiene management martial arts education for self defense. Making of reusable sanitary towels and period pants. We run workshops also within the areas of the importance of education and on subjects like early marriages and pregnancies, gender based violence and many others.
FOOTBALL 4 WASH– We might not have enough funds to put into the program but we continue to strive to empower our girls,Menstrual Hygiene Management Training and creating awareness against stereotypes and cultural practices. We marked the menstruation hygiene month by carrying out workshops and a woman empowerment tournament
AFFORESTATION- We recognize the need to conserve the environment by planting a tree in every free spot and at every opportunity. We started the initiative last year and continue to plant our own share of the 10% forest cover Kenya aims to achieve by the year 2030.
Bonito: Fantastic portfolio of programs George. In your region, the majority of the inhabitants work with agriculture. Agriculture, like football, is very affected by climate change- what are some of the ways that regions like yours work to protect against climate related disturbances?
George: Some concrete examples are crop rotation, reduced tillage, mulching, cover cropping and cross-slope farming. You might have to look some of these terms up!
Football Without Borders Kenya also collect garbage and plastic to use them as markers and cones Making reusable sanitary pads and period panties also help my community health wise due to no disposal pads that affect our environment.
Bonito: Can you tell us about a moment in your journey so far which has truly touched you and inspired you?
George: Yes, I was so lucky to have been chosen by Wilfried Lemke and the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP) to attend one of their Youth Leadership Programs in Bosön in Sweden. Just being there was an inspiration and made me realize that all of this was possible- it was definitely a turning point for me.
Bonito: George, thanks so much for speaking with us and we hope to have you on the platform again soon to help us delve deeper into the practical elements associated with football for agricultural development and resilience!
George: Thanks Bonito!
BIO
Name: George Osoya
Organization (s): Football without Borders Kenya
Role: Founder/Director
Favorite Football (or sport) for good organization apart from your own:Mathare Youth sports association (MYSA)
Favorite Football Club: Chelsea
Dream sport for good organization that you would love to collaborate with on a project: Common Goal, FDF
About George: George Okoth Osoya is the Founder and Director of Football Without Borders Kenya, an organization empowering youth through sports by impacting education, physical wellness, nurturing talents, and teaching life skills. From a young age, George envisioned a community free from HIV/AIDS, poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence, early marriages, and drug abuse. His dedication has led to the organization’s tremendous growth, particularly in empowering girls and women. Football Without Borders Kenya now boasts men, women, and junior teams participating in national tournaments and championships.
George graduated from the African ChangeMakers with a project management certificate in 2018 and holds various certificates in women empowerment, disability, sustainability, leadership management, human rights, and child protection. He is also a qualified referee and coach working for the Football Federation of Kenya. Currently, he is involved in creating and participating in leagues and workshops focusing on menstrual hygiene management, agriculture, and general women empowerment for skill development. George’s dedication has earned him numerous awards, sponsors, and opportunities for volunteer and exchange programs, further growing his community.