See how dedicated funding and support are empowering young female runners across Kenya to reach the world stage.

As the movement for girls in sport across Africa continues to gain momentum, one initiative quietly but powerfully changed the trajectory of many young athletes in 2025. Through the Athletics Race Fund (ARF), DBA Africa created an opportunity for emerging runners, especially women, to access the support they needed to compete, grow, and believe in their potential. Looking back at ARF 2025, the impact on women athletes was clear, more opportunities, stronger confidence, and a new pathway for young female runners to chase their dreams.

Breaking Barriers for Women in Athletics

Across many communities in Kenya, girls with athletic talent often face challenges that go beyond the track. Limited access to resources, equipment, and competition opportunities can make it difficult for young women to sustain their athletic ambitions. Recognising these barriers, DBA Africa launched the Athletics Race Fund as part of its broader mission of using sport to empower communities and create life-changing opportunities. 

The initiative supports emerging athletes with race entry fees, exposure, and mentorship, ensuring that talent, not circumstance, determines opportunity. For many women athletes, ARF became more than financial support, it became validation that their dreams mattered.

Purity’s Story: A Platform to Believe

One athlete who experienced the impact of the initiative firsthand was Purity, whose journey reflects the power of opportunity in sport. Speaking about the experience, Purity described how the Athletics Race Fund 2025 opened doors that once felt out of reach.

“Before ARF, competing in races consistently was difficult. The support from DBA Africa gave me the chance to run, gain exposure, and believe that my talent could take me somewhere.”

Through ARF, athletes like Purity were not only able to compete but also connect with mentors and development programmes that strengthened their careers.

“It was not just about running a race. It was about feeling supported and knowing that someone believed in women athletes like us.”

Her story represents many young female athletes across Kenya who are determined to prove that women belong on the starting line and the podium.

The Bigger Picture: Growing Women’s Sport in Africa

The success of ARF 2025 reflects a larger shift happening across Africa’s sporting landscape.

Organisations like DBA Africa are actively working to increase female participation in sport, providing training environments where girls can develop confidence, leadership, and life skills through athletics and rugby. These initiatives are critical because participation among girls in organised sports still remains significantly lower than that of boys across many regions. By investing in grassroots programmes, mentoring athletes, and removing barriers to participation, DBA Africa is helping to create a stronger ecosystem for women in sport.

Why Initiatives Like ARF Matter

The impact of the Athletics Race Fund goes far beyond race day. For women athletes, programmes like ARF provide:

• Access to competitive opportunities
• Financial support for race participation
• Mentorship and development pathways
• Confidence to pursue professional athletic careers

Each race completed, each opportunity created, and each athlete supported moves the needle forward for gender equality in sport.

A Future Fueled by Opportunity

As we look back at ARF 2025, the stories of athletes like Purity remind us why grassroots investment in sport matters. Every supported race is a step closer to unlocking the next generation of champions, and for many young women in Kenya, the starting line is no longer a barrier, it’s the beginning of possibility.

Through initiatives like the Athletics Race Fund, DBA Africa continues to champion a future where girls across Africa have the opportunity to run, compete, and lead.