At just 15, Blandina’s life is a story of resilience against relentless adversity. Living in one of Mombasa’s overcrowded urban villages with her brothers and single mother, she faces a daily struggle that threatens to eclipse her dreams. Their home, a single, cramped rental room, is as fragile as their situation; filled with dreams far bigger than its walls. On the hardest days, unpaid rent leaves the family locked out, forced to sleep outside until they can scrape together enough money to return.
A Mother's Sacrifice and a Daughter's Aspiration
Her mother, once the proud owner of a small catering business, lost her livelihood to long-term health complications. Today, she survives on irregular odd jobs, fighting to provide even the basics. School fees are a constant battle, and Blandina and her siblings are often sent home for arrears. Yet, despite their deprivation, Blandina’s mother carries herself with quiet dignity, encouraging others as a Community Liaison for LSO, even when struggling at home; showing her children that even in the hardest circumstances, hope and kindness can endure.
But Blandina’s journey wasn’t certain. In a community where many girls fall victim to idleness, drugs, and early pregnancies, her path could have easily taken a different turn. What shields her is the support Blandina has found through LSO’s PATHWAYS program.
From Hardship to Hope
Since 2008, Little Sports Organisation (LSO) has been breaking cycles of poverty in undeserved communities like Blandina’s. By combining sport, education, and sustainable livelihoods, they’ve reached over 274,000 children with weekly sports and life skills sessions. These programs provide safe spaces where young people like Blandina can develop resilience, teamwork, and essential life skills that extend beyond the classroom and playing field.
For Blandina, LSO’s intervention has been more than just an after-school program; it has been a shield and a springboard. With access to training, mentorship, and the possibility of a rugby scholarship, she now stands on the threshold of opportunities that could transform her life, dreaming of becoming a pilot and, by extension, lifting her family from poverty.
Her story is one of many. Through LSO’s holistic model, sport becomes more than a game: it’s a lifeline, an education, and a pathway to dignity and opportunity. For Blandina, it’s the chance to turn a life of hardship into one of hope and achievement.
