GAME CEO Simon Prahm had an interview with GAME Project Manager Kate Wanderi in Nairobi during the MIDRIFT HURINET-led institutional development and support program for AMANI KIBERA.

These are his sentiments;

Kindly introduce yourself.

I am Simon Prahm, the co-founder and CEO of GAME, and we are based here in Kenya.

What's the overall vision for GAME?

GAME's vision is to create equal opportunities for all children and Youth.

It's not very original, but it's precisely what we do here in Kenya and other Countries. We do this by creating lasting social change for Youth-led Street sports and culture by engaging young people on the playground and in the Communities, building them up as role models, and then sending them out to the communities.

They then go to the communities and participate in sports activities and other important community components.

We listen to the needs in every community in which we are active. Here in Kenya, Peacebuilding and more opportunities for Youth have been two

huge needs that we are advancing with the current program.

How do you see the operationalization of that vision here in Kenya?

We bring about change here in Kenya through dedicated partners such as MIDRIFT HURINET, which has been our solid partner for the past three years.

With MIDRIFT HURINET, we found a partner who understood the vision. We have been able to capacity-build other Community-Based Organizations

here in Kenya.

With this program, we have started activities in other regions, such as Kisumu and Nairobi.

In each of those cities, we have strong local-based organizations that are capacity-built to bring about change in their communities.

How does GAME plan to Inspire these Young Organizations, such as AMANI KIBERA (Nairobi) and Manyatta Resource Centre (Kisumu), to connect with GAME's vision?

Our sports-for-all approach focuses heavily on developing talents for community development leaders,and that's where we are unique.

We also address some of the SDGs after carefully selecting what to address.

We go out and ask young people. whats important to them and where we need to focus in this community, and then we shape the activities on and off the sports field around the community leaders.

Do you think Peace is a Prerequisite for Development, and How?

Peacebuilding is one of the most essential things in the Communities where we are active in Kenya and many other places.

It's not because peacebuilding is more important than climate change, which is another big topic, or because job creation and employability are

more important than job creation; it is because peacebuilding comes first. If we don't have peace, its hard to think about anything other than getting through the day.

With the Peace Building program, we are engaging together with MIDRIFT HURINET, who have significant experience in this field, we have been able to build many ambassadors in the Communities and have dialogue sessions with the Youth and Police on workable solutions affecting them following the pro-government protest witnessed in 2024.

When we designed this program, we had yet to learn if it would be as relevant as it is now.

Are you afraid of political uncertainties in Kenya with the Vision of GAME, or do you think they can hamper the implementation of the program you intend to run?

With this program and the peacebuilding aspect, we have found that many political leaders have supported what we do.

Some are also challenged on what to do next because no one wants violence in the streets, but we also need to find solutions.

With this program, the solutions lie in conversations between the Youth and duty-bearers, and that's what we are trying to convey.

We have found that several duty bearers have been out supporting our program.

By

Jacob Karani & Catherine Wanjiru