Faida Safari was a promising young woman in the Moving the Goalposts (MTG) Sports Academy. But this dream was abruptly cut short. Faida was kidnapped by her partner and physically, mentally, and emotionally abused.

After ten years of fighting for her life, she returned to the pitch to play the game she loved. But unfortunately, this was also short-lived. In March 2022, just a few months back to playing football, her partner found her and took her life and his, leaving their children as orphans.  

“I can’t say exactly what football meant to her, but I know it meant a lot because whenever Faida came back to the community, she’d come back to the programme,” said Lydia Kasiwa, Community Engagement and Football coordinator at MTG. 

To end gender-based violence and ensure young women and girls like Faida Safari have a chance to live a full life, MTG has partnered with Football for Good and celebrated Australian footballer Alex Chidiac.

“Everyone, regardless of gender, has an inherent right to life, and when that fundamental fact is taken away from them, it’s up to us as a global community to take a stand,” said Alex Chidiac, Australian National Football Women’s Team, and Racing Louisville midfielder.  

Since 2019, Chidiac has pledged 1% of her salary to MTG and has actively engaged in its efforts to increase gender equality.  

In 2022 when Chidiac learnt of Safari’s death, she stepped up as a champion for change. Unwanted FC, an Australian-based upcycling company, and Chidiac are selling her old Atletico Madrid, JEF United, Melbourne Victory, and Melbourne City sports kits as repurposed tote, bum and side bags, and face masks.

"I believe this is a sustainable approach to continue supporting the organisation and hope the donations can make a positive impact," Chidiac explains. 

Half of all sales from this collection will go directly to MTG to support the organisation’s community work tackling GBV and help Safari’s children, the oldest of whom plays in the MTG Junior leagues.  

“The big question is what will happen with her [Safari’s] kids because they have lost their parents,” Kasiwa observes. After murdering Safari, her perpetrator and children’s father took his own life leaving the kid’s mental well-being, education, and welfare in a fragile state.”

Alex and Unwanted FC’s generous donation will go towards food, clothing, and education for Safari’s children. This ensures that despite the harsh reality for her children. Their future will be secured.

“What Safari’s children need most now is stability, and more donations and purchasing Chidiac’s repurposed kits will go a long way to realising this,” Kasiwa emphasises.

In addition to organising care for Safari’s children, MTG launched a campaign to end gender-based violence (GBV) in her honour. 

“For us at MTG, we didn’t want the community to feel like it’s normal to take women’s lives and abuse women,” Kasiwa observes. “We should not be silent on such issues and in such matters until justice is done.” 

Following Safari’s passing, MTG organised a press conference and sent a loud and clear message to the political, religious and community leaders and policymakers, demanding action and mainstreaming SGBV as a primary concern for redress.

“Faida is one case, but many girls are going through the same thing in the community.” Kasiwa states.

MTG is currently advocating for the approval of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) policies for the local government in Kilifi County to outline how SGBV cases are to be handled legally. MTG is also mobilising community members, providing psychosocial support, and is working on training older participants in counselling methods so girls will be more comfortable talking about issues they are facing. 

Like many women around the world, Safari didn’t openly share about the abuse she suffered. 

It’s something that Fridah, a Regional Assistant at MTG, says is all too common in the area. 

“The problem with the community is they don’t come out and speak about GBV,” noted Fridah Kahindi, MTG Divisional Assistant, Kaloleni.  “I think training the girls to support each other will help.” 

MTG Divisional Assistant Janet Konde agrees, “In my opinion, football is the best tool to use to bring people together to discuss gender-based violence or any issues coming from the community.”