Kenyan cycling administrator awarded prestigious Commonwealth scholarship

Cycling administrator Mary Angela Achieng has been awarded a scholarship for the Commonwealth Women’s Leadership Programme 2022.

According to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), the award will give the administrator an opportunity to upskill towards personal development in sports management and develop a program that supports gender empowerment in the community.

Angela is one of the 25 women within the Commonwealth nations and territories in the program that will support emerging female leaders to access appropriate educational and experiential opportunities to empower them as leaders for equal rights within their sport and communities.

NOC-K Secretary General, Mr. Francis Mutuku, explaining the scholarship process said, ‘We had 21 applicants from national federations in Kenya, with very good proposals from those who applied. We competitively shortlisted two applicants and their profiles forwarded to CGF. Angela was selected by CGF to undertake the program, and awarded the grant of five thousand pounds.’

Mr. Mutuku mentioned that, "We have kick started a number of programs for women in sport as we push the agenda of gender balance, which is still a challenge. Within the women in sports programme, we are supporting technical and administration officials in terms of training and exposure. We have held forums with doctors, physiotherapists, journalists, referees and administrators. And we are implementing the recommendations from these forums on how to bridge the gap."

The program will run for 12 months, with the beneficiaries having bespoke development plans to fit their current status and ambitions, as well as adapted programs for their communities.

Angela commenting on the program mentioned, "My project will be focusing on green and clean environment, and wellness with a focus on women and the youth within the cycling fraternity. Taking lessons from the sport, most women drop from sports due to various environmental and societal issues, and I’d like to address some of these things."

With the collaboration of University of Birmingham, Angela will benefit from mentors with their professional knowledge and experiences, to enable participants to achieve their goals.

Present at the scholarship award event was the Women Representative of NOC-K Mrs. Parvi Rawal and Deputy Secretary General Mr. Shoaib Vayani.

Mr. Vayani is also the president of Kenya Sports Shooting Federation that won the 2020 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Award for Supporting Women in Sport.

Speaking on why the federation was awarded, Mr. Vayani said, "The federation formed a women only shooting club and working with the clubs promotes the take up and retention of women in sports shooting. In the program, women shooters can go to any club, and at no cost and use the facilities without paying range fees. The equipment costs are also subsidized."

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"The International Sports Shooting Federation has taken note of this and donated some equipment towards the program," added Mr. Vayani.

Mrs. Paurvi Rawal lauded the scores of women coming up to seek and take up opportunities in sports to develop their capacities and encouraged that NOC-K is looking to do even more to empower women in sports.