Iten’s Young Stars Get a Running Start: Award-Winning Teacher Launches Kids Run Club

 A powerful new initiative aimed at nurturing young athletic talent and promoting child safety has been launched in Iten by award-winning teacher and child-rights advocate Shokwei Barsulai. The program, known as the Iten Kids Run Club, is already generating excitement among parents and community members who have long sought structured support for children interested in running.

Barsulai, celebrated for her role in the Mama Don’t Touch movement and her work with Watoto Walindwe Ambassadors, says the program is a dream she has carried for years. Despite limited resources, she believes the time to begin is now.

The Iten Kids Run Club will offer children a safe and supervised environment for morning training sessions led by Barsulai and a volunteer coach. Beyond athletic training, the program aims to teach discipline, build confidence, and encourage healthy routines. Organizers also plan to provide uji, fruit, and chapati after practice, ensuring that no child trains on an empty stomach.

The launch comes during the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, aligning with Barsulai’s commitment to protecting and empowering children.

“We have ourselves, our coach, our community, and above everything, we have God — and that is enough to start,” Barsulai said. “I am inviting everyone to join hands with us and help turn this dream into a reality for our children.”

Local residents are encouraged to support the initiative through volunteering, donating food or running gear, or simply cheering on the young athletes.

Known worldwide as the “Home of Champions,” Iten may soon see its next generation of runners rise through the Iten Kids Run Club — a project fueled by hope, community, and the belief that every child deserves a safe place to dream, grow, and run.