Promoting mental health and communal cohesion through sport and play

Context

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about an increase of known risk factors for mental health problems. In addition to their unpredictability and uncertainty, lockdown and physical distancing might lead to social isolation, loss of income, loneliness, inactivity, limited access to basic services, a greater access to unhealthy foods, alcohol, online gaming, and lower family and social support. The slow growth of the economy due  to COVID-19 has, according to Fùtbol Màs caused unemployment, financial insecurity and poverty, thwarting access to health services (especially to health insurance systems), which negatively impacts on physical and mental health and on the quality of life.

In this respect, emphasis shall be laid on the performance of 17 Fútbol Más sessions a week all along the school year (January to November) with a programme on socio-emotional learning and post-COVID-19 recovery.

Objectives

• Creating an impact on mental and physical health in the post-COVID-19 recovery process thanks to the Fútbol Más methodology in Mathare, Kenya
• Developing a social sport COVID-19-tailored response in partnership with the schools so as to reinforce mental health and resilience among children and youngsters
• Augmenting the educators’ preparation to provide psychosocial and mental health support to both their peers and to children thanks to in-person and technology-based capacity building methods
• Reinforcing the community’s engagement and the networks for improving the safe spaces and increasing awareness of mental health problems

Activities

• Training the community leaders in the development of action strategies when facing emergency and post-emergency contexts associated with COVID-19
• Social sport sessions according to the Fútbol Más methodology and implementation of a tailored programme based on resilience in a post-COVID context
• In-service training for the Fútbol Más team of professionals to reinforce the project’s implementation
• Development of content on two key online technological applications (Moddle and Nivelat)
• Adjusting the educational programme and coordinating the activities with the community in response to the health emergency context in connection with recovery from COVID-19

Impacts

• 1,700 children impacted, 30 youths under supervision and 150 educators trained in 6 community schools in Mathare
• 1,800 indirect participants (children and youngsters’ families)
• 1,000 hours of practice sessions based on the Fútbol Más methodology provided over the course of a year

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