Liverpool FC and its principal partner Standard Chartered have provided training to 35 coaches in Nairobi, equipping them with the skills to empower girls in their community to succeed through sport.

The three-day programme delivered by coaches from LFC’s International Academy and LFC Foundation combines classroom-based and on-pitch learning with workshops covering ‘person-centred approach’, ‘barriers to participation’, ‘mental health and wellbeing’, ‘balancing life’ and ‘empowering women in leadership’. Following a series of daily tasks, the local coaches put into practice what they had learned during the three-day programme and created their own session plans incorporating the ‘Play On’ curriculum, which they will then take back and deliver to girls in their local communities.

Joyce Kibe, Head of Corporate Affairs and Brand Marketing at Standard Chartered, said: “Our aspiration is to identify ways to impact our communities in meaningful and tangible ways. Our partnership allows us to meet our objectives to support sustainable economic and social development, while inspiring more girls to thrive in the long-term.”

Coaches from Vijana Amani Pamoja, a local NGO partner of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, were asked to take part in the training alongside local grassroots and academy coaches. Enouce Ndeche, CEO of Vijana Amani Pamoja, said: “We believe in the power and the popularity of sports to act as a tool for social and economic change for the underprivileged in our society.”

Steven Gillespie, Senior Programme Manager of International Academies at LFC, said: “This has been a hugely successful continuation of the ‘Play On: Train the Trainer’ programme in Kenya. Working with the local coaches we’ve explored LFC’s coaching philosophy, which puts the person above the player, provided practical coaching guidance and given a unique insight for the participants.

“Play On is a really important project where the combined resources of LFC and Standard Chartered can help girls stay in sport and strive for success in all aspects of their life.”

Karl Carney, Department Manager, Sport & Physical Activity at LFC Foundation, said: “As coaches, we’re not just teaching football. We’re instilling important values that enable young people to succeed on and off the pitch.

“The Play On: Train the Trainer programme is so important because we can deliver a holistic curriculum that enable these local coaches to empower girls in their community to succeed through sport. It’s been wonderful to see the enthusiasm and determination of the coaches in Nairobi as they’ve completed the workshops, and we’re excited to see the impact they make on their communities.”

Liverpool FC and Standard Chartered launched their joint ‘Play On’ campaign in May 2023 with the aim to inspire, empower and educate girls to participate in sport, after learning that twice as many girls than boys drop out of sport by age 14. Following the successful digital awareness campaign featuring senior Reds players and Jürgen Klopp, the ‘Play On: Train the Trainer’ programme was developed as practical training to be delivered in-person, on the ground, where Standard Chartered works with Futuremakers coaches and female participants.

The inaugural Play On: Train the Trainer programme was held in Pretoria, South Africa in November 2023 for 34 local coaches, who have since gone on to train 3,600 girls.

To learn more about the Play On campaign, please visit https://www.sc.com/play-on.