DBA Africa Launches “Tackle It” Programme to Strengthen Mental Health and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Through Sport

Nairobi, Kenya – 26.01.26

DBA Africa has announced the launch of Tackle It, a school-based rugby and life skills programme that uses sport as a platform to address mental health, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and youth empowerment among young people. The programme has been developed in partnership with LVCT Health, through its youth-focused arm One2One Kenya, and is supported by the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust.

Tackle It is a structured, five-week intervention designed to be delivered within school settings. Using rugby as an engagement tool, the programme integrates facilitated discussions, practical activities and age-appropriate learning focused on wellbeing, healthy relationships, gender equality and personal responsibility. The approach recognises sport as a powerful entry point for education, particularly in environments where young people may otherwise have limited access to safe, supportive spaces.

The programme curriculum was developed collaboratively by DBA Africa and One2One Kenya, drawing on DBA Africa’s experience delivering education-linked sport programmes and LVCT Health’s long-standing expertise in community health, safeguarding and youth behaviour change. Training for coaches and facilitators has been embedded into the programme design to ensure safe, ethical and effective delivery within school environments.

Speaking on the launch, Pius D. Shiundu of DBA Africa said:
“Tackle It reflects our belief that sport should do more than create athletes. When structured intentionally, it can support mental wellbeing, promote healthy relationships and keep young people engaged in school. This programme is about using rugby to open conversations that matter and to support better life outcomes for young people.”

Support from the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust enables the development and early implementation of Tackle It, reinforcing the Trust’s commitment to using rugby as a force for positive social impact globally.

A spokesperson for the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust added:
“We are proud to be supporting 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 across the world, and we are delighted to be continuing to do that.”

Tackle It forms part of DBA Africa’s wider education-through-sport portfolio, which connects grassroots participation to education pathways, life skills development and safeguarding-focused youth support. The programme will be implemented through selected school partnerships, with learning from pilot phases informing future expansion.