A youth-led effort to expand access, dignity, and opportunity through football
Maya Kimanthi is a a football player in the U15 category at Finefoot Academy. Through her experience on the pitch, she has seen how something as basic as proper footwear can influence confidence, performance, and a young player’s future – particularly for talented players whose families cannot afford quality gear.
“I love football, and I’ve seen how much a good pair of boots can change the way someone plays,” Maya reflects. “Sometimes it’s the difference between being benched and being seen.”
The initiative began in December 2023 during a tournament in Arusha, Tanzania. When a teammate’s boots tore during a decisive match, Maya offered her own new pair so he could continue playing. The team won, and the player was later scouted to join a top club in Nairobi.
“That moment made everything very clear to me,” Maya says. “A single pair of shoes can change the course of a player’s future.”
Since then, Maya has consistently donated her lightly used boots whenever she receives a new pair, with additional support from her parents. To date, she has distributed more than ten pairs within her team. Several recipients have progressed to higher levels of competition, including one player selected for a football camp in Portugal.
Building on this experience, Maya is now expanding her initiative beyond Finefoot Academy. The next phase will support players from Finefoot Academy and Maono Africa, a community-based club in Dandora serving children and youth aged 11 to 17, including a senior team competing in the Football Kenya Federation league. An initial group of 50 Maono Africa players has been identified by coaches and managers as being most in need of footwear.
“I want to help more players across Nairobi, and I sought out partnerships to do this properly,” Maya explains. “
The initiative is supported by Erik Berg, who is providing initial seed funding and mentorship, the Obonyo Foundation and Turning Tides. “It’s a privilege for Turning Tides to support Maya and the generosity behind this initiative.” stated Doug Ragan, “Sport gives young people confidence, belonging, and a positive space to grow, both on and off the pitch.”
The collaboration builds on the Obonyo Foundation’s work using sport as a tool for inclusion and empowerment, including its For the Girls initiative supporting girls’ football in informal settlements such as Kibra.
Led by a young athlete and shaped by lived experience, Maya’s Soccer Shoe Initiative reflects a simple idea: when young people are given the basics they need to play, they are given the chance to be seen, to belong, and to move forward.
“I’m honoured that people believe in this idea,” Maya says. “I hope we can reach many more players who just need that one chance to keep playing.”