With six table tennis facilities now thriving in Mukuru Kwa Njenga and Kariobangi, Vision Changers Kenya has shown how sport can spark social transformation from the grassroots up.
The youths were the highlight of the World Table Tennis Day main celebrations held on Wednesday at the Nairobi City Hall.
ITTF President Petra Sörling during the World Table Tennis Day celebration at City Hall, Nairobi/ HANDOUT
Over 880 youths have so far benefited from the “Hope kwa Vijana Mtaani” initiative, a collaboration between the International Table Tennis Foundation (ITTF) and Vision Changers Kenya through its DBF programme.
By turning paddles into powerful tools for change, the programme, which translates to "Hope for Youth in the Community", is reshaping lives through crime prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration.
The project has been credited with a notable drop in juvenile crime, as it engages vulnerable youth in structured and meaningful activity.
With six table tennis facilities now thriving in Mukuru Kwa Njenga and Kariobangi, Vision Changers Kenya has shown how sport can spark social transformation from the grassroots up.
The youths were the highlight of the World Table Tennis Day main celebrations held on Wednesday at the Nairobi City Hall.
Speaking during the celebrations, ITTF President Petra Sörling emphasised the importance of diversity, inclusion and community engagement.
“We must constantly think about the next generation — how to empower them, involve them, and create spaces where everyone feels welcome and respected,” Petra said.
“Diversity and inclusion should not be reserved for WTTD alone; it must become part of our everyday lives.”
This year’s WTTD celebration in Nairobi was a vibrant showcase of unity, featuring inclusive mixed doubles tournaments, community challenge matches and appearances by local celebrities.
The festivities blended sport with culture, with live performances from Kenyan artists and lively round table discussions exploring how sport can be a catalyst for inclusive community building.
Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) President Andrew Mudibo thanked the ITTF Foundation for allowing Kenya to host the WTTD Main event.
“I wish to appreciate the journey that Vision Changers Kenya has undergone in transforming lives, because it’s how you live in a community that determines how your life will be."
"It’s a privilege and honour for Kenya to be selected to be the centre point of the WTTD celebration this year,” Mudibo said.
