Tackle It Brings Sport-Based GBV Prevention to Five Nairobi Schools

DBA Africa’s Tackle It programme has completed its Nairobi rollout, using rugby to help young people build confidence, understand gender-based violence (GBV) and develop healthier ways of communicating and responding to challenges.
When a rugby session begins at a school in Nairobi, the focus is not always on what happens on the pitch.Through DBA Africa’s Tackle It programme, rugby is being used as an entry point for conversations that matter far beyond sport: respect, consent, gender-based violence, emotional wellbeing, communication, leadership, teamwork and how young people can respond to conflict without resorting to violence.
From May to July 2026, Tackle It was delivered in five Nairobi schools: Jamhuri Comprehensive School, Kibera Junior Secondary School, Olympic Junior Secondary School, Toi Junior Secondary School and Raila Educational Center and School. Approximately 30–45 students participated at each school, with boys and girls aged 11–19 completing the five-session curriculum and provided with Tackle It Workbook, providing participants with a practical resource to revisit session content, reflect on key issues and importantly, share learning with peers supporting the programme’s wider objective of ensuring that lessons introduced through sport can continue into schools, families and communities, broadening the indirect reach and beneficiaries of the programme

Taking Tackle It to Nairobi

The Nairobi rollout marked an important stage in the development of Tackle It, following earlier implementation in Nakuru and Kakamega. Each session combines rugby-based activity with facilitated discussion and reflection. Participants explore respect, consent, communication, leadership, teamwork, emotional wellbeing and violence prevention, while learning how to respond to conflict without resorting to violence.

The response from students and schools has been encouraging. Coaches observed greater participation and openness during sessions, with some students who were initially reluctant to speak becoming more willing to contribute, take responsibility and demonstrate leadership.Teachers also reported changes extending beyond the sessions, including increased participation, supportive behaviour and leadership among some students. Parents noted improvements in areas including discipline and timekeeping.

For DBA Africa, this is central to the youth development through sport approach. Rugby provides the platform, but the objective is to equip young people with knowledge, confidence and practical skills that extend beyond participation in sport.

Connecting Sport with Safeguarding and Support

Tackle It also integrates safeguarding and referral support into programme delivery.

DBA Africa coaches are trained to recognise safeguarding concerns and understand appropriate referral procedures. Through the programme’s partnership with One2One Kenya, participants who require additional assistance can be connected to professional counselling and support services. This is particularly important when addressing GBV and mental health. Young people need more than awareness. They need trusted adults, safe environments and clear pathways to appropriate support.
By bringing together sport, education, safeguarding and GBV prevention, Tackle It creates a structured environment where young people can engage with difficult issues while remaining connected to practical support systems.

Supported by the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust

The expansion of Tackle It has been supported by the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust, whose funding has been integral to programme implementation.

The support has enabled DBA Africa to invest in coach preparation, equipment, learning materials, monitoring and programme delivery across multiple regions. It has also supported the transition from developing and testing the Tackle It model to implementing it at greater scale.

A spokesperson for the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust added:

"We are proud to be sporting DBA Africa and the great work they do.Barbarians F.C is supported across the world on the field and since its inception in 2004 Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust has been repaying that support by itself supporting worthwhile causes acrossthe world and we are delighted to be continuing to do that."

The partnership reflects the role that investment in sport can play when connected to wider outcomes for young people, including violence prevention through sport, safeguarding and wellbeing.

What Comes Next?

With the Nairobi rollout complete, DBA Africa will focus on strengthening the evidence behind Tackle It and fundraising for expansion. Further evaluations will assess knowledge retention and learning among participants in Nairobi and Nakuru, while participant experiences and implementation lessons will continue to inform programme development. DBA Africa will also strengthen safeguarding and referral pathways as the programme grows.

The longer-term ambition is to reach more schools and young people across Kenya and build a stronger evidence base for sport-based violence and GBV prevention in Kenya as well as mental health support for adolescents and students

Tackle It forms part of DBA Africa’s wider commitment to changing lives through sport. By connecting rugby with education, safeguarding and youth leadership, the programme is demonstrating how sport can contribute to safer environments and stronger communities.

The Nairobi rollout is complete. The next step is to build on what has been learned, reach more young people and continue developing a locally led model for sport for development in Africa.