International Day of Education: How Sport Helps Young People Co-Create Their Education

Each year, World Education Day invites organisations to reflect not only on access to learning, but on how education is shaped, delivered and experienced. The 2026 theme, “The Power of Youth in Co-Creating Education”, recognises young people not as passive recipients of learning, but as active participants in building pathways that reflect their realities, ambitions and strengths.

At DBA Africa, this belief sits at the centre of our work. We view sport not as an extracurricular activity, but as a powerful educational platform, one that keeps young people in school, equips them with life skills and opens doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain closed.

Sport as an Entry Point to Education

Across Kenya, many young people disengage from formal education not because of a lack of ability, but due to limited support systems, financial pressure or a lack of relevance in how learning is delivered. Sport offers a different entry point. It provides structure, routine, accountability and motivation, qualities that directly support school retention and academic progression.

Through our academies and programmes across Kenya and in Uganda, DBA Africa uses sport-based programming to reinforce the importance of education. Training schedules are aligned with school attendance, academic discipline is encouraged alongside athletic development and young people are supported to see education as part of their long-term pathway, not separate from sport and scholarships sought and provided as a reward for sporting prowess.

Education Through Sport in Practice

Beyond competition, DBA Africa delivers structured education-through-sport programmes designed to respond to real needs in youth development identified by young people themselves.

Initiatives such as Tackle It, a five-week rugby-based intervention, integrate learning around gender-based violence prevention, mental health and youth empowerment. Big Five and Little Five programmes, which use sport to teach age-appropriate life skills, from confidence and teamwork to goal-setting and self-belief. As well as initiatives under development like Healthy Humans which focuses on healthy relationships, SRHR education and body awareness, while planned partnerships with technology and analytics companies, including Tisini, aim to introduce young people to digital literacy and sports data, bridging sport with modern educational and career-relevant skills.

These programmes are not abstract add-ons. They are practical, participatory and youth-centred initiatives, allowing young people to actively shape the skills they gain through sport and apply them in school and beyond.

From Participation to Opportunity

Sport also creates visibility. Through structured competitions such as the Girls Future’s Cup and cross-regional exposure platforms like the Dream Team Tour, young people are given the chance to be seen by schools, coaches and decision-makers.

To date, over fifty young athletes have accessed local and international school scholarships through DBA Africa’s programmes, supported by exposure, performance and character development. These opportunities span a wide range of institutions, including Bryanston School, Kingsley School, Meru School, Sigoti Complex Girls School, Sinaga Girls Secondary School, Mukumu Girls Secondary School and Kaimosi Girls School, among others.

For many of these students, sport did not replace education. It safeguarded it. It created a pathway into schools they may not have accessed otherwise and reinforced the value of staying engaged in learning.

Co-Creating Pathways, Not Just Outcomes

World Education Day’s focus on youth co-creation is reflected in how DBA Africa designs its work. Young people are not simply enrolled into programmes; they shape them through participation, leadership and progression. Sport becomes a space where they learn to set goals, take responsibility and imagine futures that include education, ambition and opportunity.

As education systems continue to evolve, the role of sport in supporting learning deserves greater recognition. When aligned intentionally, sport keeps young people in school, builds skills that matter in the classroom and creates visibility for scholarships and further education.

On this World Education Day, DBA Africa reaffirms its commitment to education pathways that are practical, inclusive and youth-led. Through sport, young people are not only learning, they are helping to build the systems that support their own success.