TACKLE-IT
INTRODUCTION
A school-based rugby and life skills programme by DBA Africa
Tackle It is a DBA Africa programme that uses rugby as a tool to engage young people in schools while addressing gender-based violence (GBV), mental health, and youth empowerment. The programme has completed an early-stage proof-of-concept phase, generating statistically significant improvements across key youth development outcomes. Following this phase, DBA Africa is preparing to roll out Phase One of the programme, strengthening delivery, monitoring and partnerships to support scale and long-term impact.
Tests And Learnings
Tackle It has completed a pilot and proof-of-concept phase to test programme design, delivery, and early outcomes in school and academy-linked settings. Confirming that Tackle It can be delivered consistently across different geographic and social contexts.
VISION FOR GROWTH
IMPACT
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72 ADOLESCENTS REACHED
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2 COUNTIES
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BOYS AND GIRLS
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OVER 20 COACHES TRAINED
THE CHALLENGE
Young people in Kenya face multiple, intersecting challenges that affect their safety, wellbeing, and development.
- Gender-based violence (GBV) is common: An estimated 42 % of adolescents across Kenya report experiencing gender-based violence, with both girls and boys affected by physical, emotional or coercive behaviours that undermine their safety and confidence.
- Violence exists inside and outside schools: GBV, including harassment, exploitation and harmful gender norms, often goes unchallenged in schools and communities, leaving many young people without the skills or support to prevent or respond to it.
- Mental health support remains limited: Children and adolescents often lack access to timely mental health information and support, with stigma and resource shortages constraining care and early intervention.
- Existing programmes do not fully engage youth: Schools and communities frequently lack practical, age-appropriate programmes that engage young people , especially boys , in meaningful conversations about respect, consent, healthy behaviour, and emotional wellbeing.
- Traditional classroom approaches fall short: Conventional teaching methods can struggle to tackle sensitive social issues effectively.
- Underutilised potential of sport: which offers a powerful entry point when combined with education: When delivered with safeguarding, intentional design and trained facilitators, sport can engage youth, build resilience and open dialogue on challenging issues
THE SOLUTION
Tackle It responds to these challenges by using sport as a structured, safeguarded entry point to engage young people in conversations and skills that are often difficult to address through traditional classroom approaches. The programme is designed to:
- Use sport to create engagement, trust, and participation,particularly among young people who may disengage from conventional classroom-based approaches
- Deliver structured sessions on GBV prevention, mental health awareness, respect, consent, and inclusion
- Equip young people with practical tools to make safer, healthier choices
- Support schools with a safe sport framework delivered by trained coaches and educators
THE PROGRAMME FEATURES
- Delivered within schools
- Weekly rugby-based sessions combined with facilitated discussions
- Age-appropriate learning materials and workbooks
- Strong emphasis on safeguarding and inclusion, including girls’ participation
- Coaches trained in safeguarding and basic psychosocial support
Tackle It is a DBA-developed product, aligned with the organisation’s Education Through Sport programmes. The programme model has been tested through a proof-of-concept phase, informing curriculum refinement and scale planning.
WHAT CHANGED
Using matched pre- and post-programme assessments, participants showed statistically significant improvements across all measured outcome areas (p < 0.05). The strongest gains were seen in:
- Respect and consent
- Resilience and advocacy
These results demonstrate that short, structured, sport-based interventions can positively influence knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behaviours.
What This Means
The proof of concept shows that:
- Sport can act as a safe and effective entry point for discussing sensitive issues such as violence, consent, and mental health
- A five-week, sport based and school-linked model can produce measurable learning outcomes
- A coach-supported delivery approach is feasible and scalable
Tackle It is therefore positioned as an evidence-informed programme, now moving into a structured learning and scale phase rather than claiming long-term behavioural change.
Partnerships
Partnerships are central to ensuring quality delivery, accountability and sustainable scale, and to supporting the expansion of Tackle It to reach children and young people nationwide, and in the longer term, beyond Kenya Tackle It is delivered through collaboration, recognising that sustainable impact requires strong local partnerships and shared expertise. The proof-of-concept phase was implemented with support from local schools and educators, delivery partners with expertise in safeguarding and youth engagement including One2One Kenya, rugby and community stakeholders aligned with safe sport principles and support from the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust contributing to early programme learning and development. As the programme moves into Phase One, DBA Africa actively seeks partnerships with schools and education stakeholders, foundations and donors focused on gender equality, youth wellbeing and education, organisations working in sport for development, safeguarding and mental health and NGOs, community organisations and relevant public sector bodies interested in youth development and safe sport. Partnerships are central to ensuring quality delivery, accountability and sustainable scale and to supporting the expansion of Tackle It to reach children and young people nationwide and, in the longer term, beyond Kenya.
PARTNERS
DBA Sports Africa Kenya Foundation, a duly registered CIC in the UK registration number: 16439973 non-profit organisation in Kenya (Registration No. NGO-EEUN5YD)