Twenty basketball coaches from across Western Kenya gathered in Kisumu for a child safeguarding workshop organised by Green Interventions for Sustainable Towns (GIST) Kenya in partnership with the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) and the FIBA Foundation. The session focused on why safeguarding matters in sport, the importance of institutional policies and codes of conduct, and the responsibilities of adults working with young athletes.
Participants were introduced to the FIBA Safeguarding Point of Contact (SPOC) approach. KBF Regional Representative for Nyanza David Michael opened the workshop, recognising the timeliness of the intervention and affirming the federation's support for safeguarding efforts in basketball.
Organisers outlined plans to follow up with the 20 coaches and their schools to develop memoranda of understanding, safeguarding policies and coaches' codes of conduct. The workshop also feeds into preparations for the Ball for Life tournament scheduled for 21 November 2026 in Kisumu, themed Play for Equality, Health & Climate Action, which aims to promote gender equality and raise awareness of gender-based violence.
The partners stressed that training should mark the beginning of a safeguarding process, with follow-up and institutional ownership needed to translate awareness into lasting protection for children.
