About this item
Growing up and living in Kibera, Kenya, Abdul Kassim was well aware of the disproportionate number of challenges faced by women due to the extreme gender inequalities that persist in the slums. After being raised by his aunts, mother, and grandmother and having a daughter himself, he felt that he needed to make a difference.In 2002, Abdul started a soccer team for girls called Girls Soccer in Kibera (GSK) , with the hope of fostering a supportive community and providing emotional and mental support for the young women in the town. The soccer program was a success, but the looming dangers of slum life persisted, and the young women continued to fall victim to the worst kinds of human atrocities. Indeed, it was the unyielding injustice of these conditions that led Abdul to the conclusion that soccer alone was not enough to create the necessary systemic change.
About the Author
Author of Play Like a Girl, and How Coffee Saved My Life, Ellie Roscher's work also can be found in several compilation books and magazines. Editor, blogger, youth worker and creative writing teacher, she currently resides in Minneapolis with her spouse and two sons. Find out more at ellieroscher.com
