FOOTBALL | CULTURE | CONSERVATION

INTRODUCTION

Deeply rooted in the Maasai pastoralist communities of Kenya's South Rift Valley, SORALO is a community organisation fostering a "culture of coexistence," where people, their livestock and wildlife live and thrive side by side.

'Osotua'

is a Maasai concept referring to interconnection and togetherness. SORALO's Osotua Tournament brings together sports, culture and coexistence in a community-led youth engagement initiative that uses football as a launching pad to strengthen education, leadership, cultural integrity and coexistence in the youth of Kenya's Southern Rift Valley region.

THE PEOPLE & PLACE

SORALO’s landscape comprises 1.5 million hectares in Kenya’s South Rift Valley and is located at the centre of the Kenya-Tanzania borderlands region. The landscape has,for thousands of years, played host to pastoralist communities. The Maasai are one of these communities, believed to have first arrived on the landscape in the 17th century. Spanning the area between the Serengeti Mara and Mount Kilimanjaro-Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystems, the region is now the largest remaining contiguous piece of Maasail and left in Kenya and is home to 30 self-defined Maasai communities made up of 340,000 Maasai people.

Communities

on the landscape live alongside a diverse range of wildlife in the region, which supports some of the richest mammal diversity in the world,acts as a critical corridor between 52I UCN-designated protected areas; encompasses three Key Biodiversity Areas(South Nguruman,Lake Magadi,and Kwenia)and connects three other Key Biodiversity Areas(Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Lake Natron). The landscape also supports 704 birds,133 mammal,80 reptile,and 42 amphibian species and is of particular importance for threatened and endangered large mammals and birds.

THE PROBLEM

The South Rift Valley of Kenya has for centuries played host to Maasai pastoralist communities as well as the diverse wildlife that live alongside them. The largest contiguous piece of Maasai land left in Kenya, this landscape contains a wealth of biodiverse ecosystems and human culture.

However,

the traditional Maasai land management techniques that have helped these ecosystems to survive until now are facing new challenges: changes in climate, population growth, societal and cultural norms and land use all threaten the health and connectivity of this landscape and with it the wellbeing of all those that live up on it. Meanwhile, conventional conservation is often met with suspicion due to historical and present-day injustices and cultural knowledge, pride and identity is being eroded among younger generations.

THE SOLUTION

The Osotua Tournament creates opportunities for greater community cohesion, unity and youth leadership, while using football as a platform to engage 10,000+ Maasai youth from across SORALO’s 1.5 million hectare landscape on the topics of Conservation, Culture and Coexistence.

Youth

leaders are given opportunities to take on responsibilities and gain experience in the organisation and implementation of the tournament. SORALO also runs a health clinic for the communities and local vendors sell their products to participants and spectators, supporting community livelihoods.

Conservation, Culture and Coexistence

Conservation

With participants and spectators gathered to watch and play games,Ranger Instructors help the young crowds overcome skeptical perceptions of conservation through educational activities about the importance of a healthy ecosystem and its links to community well being;the links between culture and the environment; and how conservation can take many forms,growing out of local traditions and practices and serving local communities.

Coexistence

Ranger Instructors also train youth in real-life skills to live safely alongside wildlife–including evade/avoid skills for lion and elephant encounters. These skills help reduce the number of negative- and potentially dangerous-human-wildlife interactions, promoting more peaceful coexistence.

Culture

Finally, alongside football, Osotua also includes traditional Maasai sports, music and drama activities, which promote culture and community cohesion. In a young demographic that is becoming increasingly urbanized, strengthening cultural pride and ownership is essential to maintaining the pastoralist culture that has for centuries, and continues to steward the landscape and ensure that all who live up on it –people, livestock and wildlife– are able to thrive.

THE IMPACT

Last year, the second annual Osotua Tournament scored the following goals

  • 5,000 boys and girls, across 7 regions, participated in football games
  • 96 youth actively involved as facilitators, ambassadors, organisers or officials
  • 50,000 community members engaged on the ground
  • 250,000 community members engaged through radio and social media
  • 12 boys teams and 6 girls teams participated in finals weekend
  • 6 new educational activities developed
  • Cultural dances and music performances delivered to youth, elders and leaders
  • 1 health clinic provided to the community
  • Numerous local business opportunities facilitated by presence of attendees

Conservation is life,our animals and livestock live on the land we conserve,and without it we could not have livestock,and livestock gives us life. Without conservation there is no life.

- Community Youth Leader

THE VISION

This year, we want to make Osotua bigger and better than ever.Building off of the world cup fever,we are aiming to:

  • Expand the competition to 8 regions
  • Triple the number of girls teams(totalling 35 teams)
  • Involve 35+ more boys teams
  • Introduce 4 more traditional Maasai sports
  • Develop and deliver 10 new educational activities
  • Directly engage 10,000 youth on the ground
  • 1 day players camp dedicated to education and training
  • 60 more youth leaders organising and implementing(40 girls,20 boys)

THE PLAN

01

Phase 1: Plan & Prepare (June-September 2026)

Engage communities, schools and local leaders for feedback and planning | Select and train youth ambassadors and conservation rangers | Finalise tournament logistics, safeguarding and monitoring | Develop and pilot conservation education activities | Finalise tournament plans and community agreements | Facilitate community-level pre-qualifiers.
02

Phase 2: Play & Inspire (September-December 2026)

Regional tournaments across 8 communities including traditional sports. | Conservation education through football, schools and community events. | Youth-led awareness campaign online and in communities. | Finals Festival featuring a 1-day camp and 2-day finals competition focused on football, culture and conservation.
03

Phase 3: Measure & Grow (January–March 2027)

Gather feedback from players,communities and partners | Measure project impact and document success stories | Share results with partners and supporters | Develop sustainability plan for the next tournament conservation.

WILL YOU GIVE US THE ASSIST?

Help us use the power of football to unite communities, inspire young leaders and protect Kenya's rangelands

Become a Strategic Partner of the 2026 Osotua Tournament.

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