Martial Arts Programme for Mental Health

in Kenyan Slum Schools

Martial Arts into EYW® Education

Why Martial Arts?

Martial Arts (MA) play a crucial role in promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being in underprivileged educational environments, empowering students to overcome obstacles, realise their potential, and achieve success both inside and outside the classroom.

The Warrior Programme

Kicking Poverty, Kicking Stress: A Beacon of Hope. This is the power of our innovative "Warrior Programme" a unique blend of Martial Arts (MA) and Sports Psychology designed to empower boys and girls in the slums of Kenya.

Empowering lives through Martial Arts

It will be a powerful tool for empowerment, self-defence, discipline and focus, social and emotional skills, healthy lifestyle, resilience and adaptability and character development. 350 students, 80% girls, divided across 4 different Schools in the slums of Kenya.

“Developing champions in life, shaping leaders of the future”

Empowering Minds, Empowering Futures

Empowering Youth Through Martial Arts

Mental Wellness in Kenya's Slums

An EYW educational programme

We are excited to share a hidden gem from our Empowering Educational Programme (EEP): a project making a real difference for the students impacted by EYW.

Kicking Poverty, Kicking Stress: A Beacon of Hope. This is the power of our innovative "Warrior Programme" a unique blend of Martial Arts (MA) and Sports Psychology designed to empower young boys and girls in the slums of Kenya.

Our goal is to ignite a lasting impact by empowering 350 students (ages 12-18) with a focus on girls (80%) through this program's initial phase. Your contribution will not only transform these young lives but also lay the foundation for a future where countless more students benefit from this transformative programme.

To ensure the programme's maximum impact, we breakdown the needs on its core components and that's what we look to fundraise:

  1. Expert-Led Training (MA instructors both on-site and remote

  2. Personalise mentorship and coaching from sports psychologists.

  3. Engaging Curriculum and Materials.

  4. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Equipment to provide the Schools for the physical trainings.

This is just the beginning!

WHY Martial arts to empower girls and boys in the slums of Kenya?

Imagine a girl in a Kenyan slum, facing extreme poverty and limited opportunities. Now, imagine her transformed – confident, resilient, and empowered to reach her full potential.

  1. Martial Arts (MA) play a crucial role in promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being in underprivileged educational environments, empowering students to overcome obstacles, realise their potential, and achieve success both inside and outside the classroom.

  2. The Warrior Programme, affectionally nicknamed by the students holds particular importance is a lifeline in underprivileged environments.

  3. It will be a powerful tool for empowerment, self-defence, discipline and focus, social and emotional skills, healthy lifestyle, resilience and adaptability and character development.

  4. For boys and girls in their teens, breaking gender stereotypes, empowering mindset, confidence building, fostering leadership and promoting physical fitness.

    A privileged opportunity so needed in underpriviliged environments where opportunity never knocks any door.

Integrated within the 4-year modular programme impacting hundreds of lives. For the last 7years, nearly 1,000 students have been impacted. 120 girls graduate from the EEP every year.

EYW NEEDS YOUR HELP

We embrace diversity, we believe in collaboration and we grow thanks to the commitment and unconditional support of our partners, allies, donors and volunteers that join together towards shared goals.

Together, we can build a better future for all

Contribute to this project

Project name: Warrior Programme

Code: EYWEEP03MA24

Together, we can make a difference and build a brighter future
  • A student from Deporres School in an in-person Martial Arts session with Esther

    A student from Deporres School in an in-person Martial Arts session with Esther

  • Martial Arts session at St. Martins School for girls in 2022

    Martial Arts session at St. Martins School for girls in 2022

  • Alessio and Esther teaching a Martial Arts routine in a remote session

    Alessio and Esther teaching a Martial Arts routine in a remote session

  • Warm-up to start the Warrior Workshop session

    Warm-up to start the Warrior Workshop session

  • Teaching a Boxing routine to a student from Deporres School

    Teaching a Boxing routine to a student from Deporres School

  • Martial Arts workshop applying the Warrior Method

    Martial Arts workshop applying the Warrior Method developed by Smartcompass

  1. Expert-Led Training (MA instructors both on-site and remote).

  2. Personalise mentorship and coaching from sports psychologists both on-site and remote.

  3. Engaging Curriculum and Materials. Adapted and personalised academic material and audiovisuals and online access to specialise courses.

  4. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Protective and workout gear equipment to provide the Schools for the physical trainings. A start pack of: 100 pair of gloves, 350 wraps, 40 training pads, foam sticks, 2 jigsaw matt flooring for 2 Schools (64m2), etc...), 60 jumping ropes, 60 resistance bands, etc...

    To raise £50.000 ($63,500) each year for the next couple of years to ensure full implementation.

    // A pair of gloves can cost $45, a basketball board wall mounted + a ball can vary between $250 - 300, a dojo matt for 1 School is $2,850 approx. A month salary of a training instructor onsite would be around $500, etc.

    Every bit counts!

Goals

  • 350 students, 80% girls, divided across 4 different Schools in the slums of Kenya (Kibagare, Kiseria, Kibera y Mombassa) as initial Phase. They are the foundation for a future where countless more students benefit from this transformative program.

  • Ensuring building block skillful set starting at early teenage until young adulthood.

  • Boys and Girls empowering one another. Breaking gender stereotypes and social norms that will allow to unlock their maximum potential.

    Developing champions in life, shaping leaders of the future.

Impact

"Empower your Mental Health by thinking like a Warrior"

Drawing from the employee engagement programme develop by Smartcompass® “Warrior business journey”, we've effectively applied these benefits to the boys and girls in schools located in Kenya's slums. Martial arts foster a range of valuable skills, promoting a healthy lifestyle. By focusing on mind, body, and soul we've created a space that supports mental health as well.

Key skills honed include balance, emotional intelligence, courage, responsiveness, focus, resilience, and humility.

Centers around emotional stability and enhance your internal capabilites.

Focuses on emotional stability, positive thinking, happiness and emotional resilience.

Martial Arts (MA) possess a strong philosophy that goes beyond physical ability. Despite the apparently aggressive appearance, It’s all about a deep understanding of one’s ability.

It requires hard work, perseverance and discipline.

BENEFITS

1/ Ability to perform under pressure 2/ Boost self-confidence 3/ Makes you stronger and empowered 4/ Keep you focused and engaged 5/ Builds your integrity

TRAIN YOUR MIND TO BE STRONGER THAN YOUR BODY.  TRAIN YOU MIND TO REGULATE YOUR EMOTIONS. 

For a brighter Kenya, to unlock the potential of the next generation, to support meaningful causes and to enable our empowerment mission through education. A lasting impact on the education nowadays and the future prospects of the students involved.

Better Education means more opportunities, and the chance to break free from the cycle of poverty.

By improving access to quality and relevant education for all individuals, without any exclusion; promoting lifelong learning opportunities; and ensuring equitable and inclusive education systems is crucial to us and we believe that partnering together we’ll breakthrough to a better, safer future.