In 2026, DBA Africa will launch Tackle It, a rugby-based intervention programme designed to support young people’s mental health, safety and wellbeing within school and community settings. Delivered through structured sport sessions and guided discussion, Tackle It responds to a growing need for practical, age-appropriate mental health education for young people in Kenya.

The programme will be implemented by DBA Africa with grant support from the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust, with mental health training and technical guidance provided by One2One, a youth platform of LVCT Health.

Why Tackle It Matters

Across Kenya, many young people experience stress, anxiety, exposure to violence and  social pressure without access to safe spaces where these issues can be discussed openly. Schools remain a critical environment for early intervention, yet mental health education is often limited by capacity, stigma or lack of trained facilitators.

Tackle It uses sport as a trusted entry point. Rugby sessions create structure, discipline and shared experience, allowing conversations around mental wellbeing, respect, consent and personal safety to happen naturally. By embedding these discussions into physical activity, the programme meets young people where they are rather than expecting them to seek support on their own.

Working with Schools and Communities

Tackle It is designed to be delivered in partnership with schools and community programmes. Over a five-week cycle, participants engage in rugby training alongside facilitated sessions that encourage reflection, communication and peer support.

For schools, the programme provides an additional layer of psychosocial support without replacing existing systems. Teachers and school leaders benefit from having trained facilitators who can reinforce positive behaviours, promote safeguarding awareness and help identify when further support may be needed.

For students, the programme builds confidence to speak up, recognise unsafe situations and understand that mental health is part of overall wellbeing, not something separate or hidden.

Specialist Mental Health Training Through One2One

The mental health and violence prevention components of Tackle It is supported by One2One, LVCT Health’s youth-focused platform with extensive experience in wellbeing, sexual and reproductive health education and youth safeguarding.

Through this partnership, DBA Africa coaches and facilitators receive structured training that ensures sensitive topics are handled responsibly. This strengthens delivery quality and ensures that conversations around mental health and safety are appropriate, inclusive and  grounded in evidence-based practice.

Backed by the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust

Grant support from the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust enables DBA Africa to deepen its safeguarding and wellbeing work through sport. The Trust’s support reflects a shared belief that rugby can be a vehicle for education, character development and long-term social impact when delivered with purpose and structure.

This backing allows Tackle It to move beyond one-off workshops and into a repeatable programme that can grow across regions and schools.

What Tackle It Aims to Achieve

Through Tackle It, DBA Africa aims to contribute to improved emotional literacy among young people, stronger safeguarding awareness in school sport environments and  healthier peer relationships. Over time, the programme supports schools and communities to normalise conversations around mental health and safety, reducing stigma and encouraging early support.

As DBA Africa prepares for the 2026 launch, Tackle It represents a shift toward more holistic youth development. It reinforces the idea that sport can build not only athletes, but confident, informed young people equipped to navigate challenges beyond the field.