Guiding Girls
Christine Nyakiru, Uganda
Christine Nyakiru is a 16 year old South Sudanese student living in Palabek Refugee Settlement in Uganda. She plays football with the Sports Aid Network, an organisation dedicated to enriching the lives of youth through sports.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your football life?
My name is Christine Nyakiru. I am 16 years old, and a primary level 5 pupil at the Unity Primary school, a school for refugees in Palabek Refugee Settlement in Uganda. I am South Sudanese, originally from Culugum Payam in Kapoeta State. I have four brothers and two sisters and live with my mum, who is a widow. My father passed away in South Sudan.
I used to play football at Culugum Payam Primary school in Southern Sudan with my fellow pupils. Now I mostly play football with my fellow schoolgirls and others from the Palabek Refugee Settlement community.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning?
I showed youth from Zone 7 within Palabek Refugee Settlement and the photos were taken at Unity Primary school. I tried to show that girls can also play football and they should be supported and encouraged to participate in the sport.
Alice Laker is another student in my school. Due to the confidence she has to play with boys, she inspires girls to play football and sometimes compete with boys too. Alice is also from South Sudan. She has been encouraging girls to play football in order to stay together and share different problems. She also helps improve the emotional status of girls through telling stories and being a team leader.
I wanted to show girls playing football in Palabek. I am interested in more girls getting involved in football. Football is a sport which improves the relationships between girls and boys in the community. Girls need a lot of support and guidance during their youth, as many have early pregnancies and drop out of school. Football also gives goals to achieve in the future.
Why is football important to you and your community? What role does Sports Aid Network play in your life at the moment?
Football is important to me as it has increased my confidence levels. I am able to address my problems, relieve stress and also my relationship with other community members has improved.
Playing with Sports Aid Network has improved my mental attitude. We have been introduced to different games like lacrosse, hockey, and football. They have also provided playing materials like balls and kits. These have always kept us busy during and after school. Most importantly, the psychosocial support that they offer has enabled us to control and manage our emotions.
Sports helps with the stress and depression levels of youth in the settlement and should be supported. There have been times when one of our community has had suicidal thoughts but playing football has helped her gain the courage to overcome all the thoughts, since she associates with people having similar problems.
What ambitions do you have for the future?
I have ambitions of being a doctor and a sports journalist. I want to become a doctor so that I am able to go back to South Sudan and help victims of war and help them with their mental health and psychosocial support.
I also want to advocate and help local girls and boys through the media to enable them to achieve their ambitions of being professional footballers and sportsmen and sportswomen.
