About Us
Mathare Leadership Hub is a Community Development Organisation that uses Sport to empower youth in the Mathare Slums to speak through their talent and to build leaders through education.
Our Story
Growing up in Mathare, we kicked a ball made of plastic bags and string. The narrow alleyways and dusty pitches were our playground and we made goalposts out of stones. All of us had big dreams: that education and sports would one day lift us out of poverty and that we would give back to our families and our community.
At 8 years old I joined a local football organisation that nurtured that dream and gave us exposure both locally and internationally. Eventually, I played for Mathare Youth, my childhood dream team and became its captain. Later, I went on to play in the Kenyan Premier League alongside my role models, the mighty Mathare United. Through football I experienced the power of discipline, teamwork and dedication and the opportunities that sports can create.
But I watched my friends play world-class football on dusty pitches only to lose their way after the final whistle, because there was no classroom waiting for them.
I learned early on that the difference between a life of hardship and a life of leadership isn't talent, it's opportunity.
I founded Mathare Leadership Hub to change that narrative. With a logo featuring a football crowned by a graduation cap as our sacred promise, we created a space where the ball is just the beginning. At the Hub, we use the discipline of the pitch to unlock intellectual potential, proving that when you empower youth with the right tools, they don't just play, they lead.
Growing up in Mathare, we kicked a ball made of plastic bags and string. The narrow alleyways and dusty pitches were our playground and we made goalposts out of stones. All of us had big dreams: that education and sports would one day lift us out of poverty and that we would give back to our families and our community.
At 8 years old I joined a local football organisation that nurtured that dream and gave us exposure both locally and internationally. Eventually, I played for Mathare Youth, my childhood dream team and became its captain. Later, I went on to play in the Kenyan Premier League alongside my role models, the mighty Mathare United. Through football I experienced the power of discipline, teamwork and dedication and the opportunities that sports can create.
But I watched my friends play world-class football on dusty pitches only to lose their way after the final whistle, because there was no classroom waiting for them.
I learned early on that the difference between a life of hardship and a life of leadership isn't talent, it's opportunity.
I founded Mathare Leadership Hub to change that narrative. With a logo featuring a football crowned by a graduation cap as our sacred promise, we created a space where the ball is just the beginning. At the Hub, we use the discipline of the pitch to unlock intellectual potential, proving that when you empower youth with the right tools, they don't just play, they lead.
Haevenar Maloba
Co-Founder & Chairman, Mathare Leadership Hub
My journey with Mathare Leadership Hub began with visiting Nairobi, Kenya where I had the opportunity to experience Mathare slums and meeting the community. I returned to Kenya and became a frequent visitor, with each visit strengthening my connection to the people of the community.
What touched me most was the potential I saw in the young boys and girls. I saw talent, ambition and big dreams waiting to be nurtured. When given the right opportunities, guidance and support, young people can achieve more.
As a Co-founder and Director of Mathare Leadership Hub, I want to invest in their potential and help their voices reach beyond their own communities.
One of my personal dreams is to establish a small community library in the western part of Kenya (Busia), equipped with books and a few computers, where children can read, learn, play, explore technology and discover new possibilities. It is a dream I hope to turn into reality.
I am proud to be part of this vision. My hope is to keep building connections, sharing stories and working with others who believe that for young people the sky should never be the limit.
My journey with Mathare Leadership Hub began with visiting Nairobi, Kenya where I had the opportunity to experience Mathare slums and meeting the community. I returned to Kenya and became a frequent visitor, with each visit strengthening my connection to the people of the community.
What touched me most was the potential I saw in the young boys and girls. I saw talent, ambition and big dreams waiting to be nurtured. When given the right opportunities, guidance and support, young people can achieve more.
As a Co-founder and Director of Mathare Leadership Hub, I want to invest in their potential and help their voices reach beyond their own communities.
One of my personal dreams is to establish a small community library in the western part of Kenya (Busia), equipped with books and a few computers, where children can read, learn, play, explore technology and discover new possibilities. It is a dream I hope to turn into reality.
I am proud to be part of this vision. My hope is to keep building connections, sharing stories and working with others who believe that for young people the sky should never be the limit.
Corina Ohle, PhD
Co-Founder & Director, Mathare Leadership Hub
Registered in Nairobi, Kenya.
Registered in Nairobi, Kenya with HQ in Berlin, Germany.
On the ground in Mathare
Despite all this the youth still have hope for the future. They know that sports and education are the only tool that can help them to believe for their better future. And that’s is why we created the Mathare Leadership Hub where the youth can play and learn.