The Center for Sports and Growth (CSG) is a community-based organisation committed to empowering children and youth by equipping them with essential knowledge and skills, with the overarching goal of enhancing their living standards and helping them realise their dreams. Established in 2020 in the Mathare area, one of Africa’s largest and most impoverished slums, CSG distinguishes itself by bridging the gap between sports and community development activities. These encompass initiatives such as slum garbage clean-ups, environmental and climate change awareness, water sanitation and hygiene programs, menstrual hygiene awareness, mental health awareness, drug abuse prevention, crime prevention, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Mathare, with a population exceeding 500,000 adults and children, is characterised by families residing in cramped shacks made of mud, sticks, cardboard, and flattened tins.

These homes lack essential amenities such as water, electricity, toilets, garbage collection, and sewage lines. The challenging living conditions persist due to neglect and corruption, with urban slums often overlooked by donor aid agencies, which may find them difficult and dangerous to engage with compared to rural areas.
Despite these adversities, CSG has made significant strides, currently involving over 1000 children and youth in sports leagues, slum clean-up activities, AIDS prevention initiatives, leadership training programs, and various community development activities. CSG effectively links sports with development, showcasing the capacity of even the most economically disadvantaged youth to organise sports activities and contribute to community development.