A Kenyan, through a non-profit organisation, won the Fifa Diversity award during the ceremony held in London.
Fatuma Abdulkhadir’s organisation Horn of Africa Development Initiative (HODI) won the award following their project that uses football to empower young girls.
She beat Fiona Hekking of John Moriarty Football and Ged Grebby of Show Racism the Red Card to bag the award that is given annually.
The award is usually given to an outstanding organisation, group initiative or football personality that stands up for diversity and anti-discrimination in football on a national or international level and on a sustained basis.
FIFA Council Member and member of the Diversity Award jury Lydia Nsekera of Burundi presented the award to HODI and pointed out that diversity is the trait of football.
“This is the third Diversity Award that FIFA has organised, highlighting organisations and individuals that are standing up for diversity and inspiring unity, solidarity and equality among all people," stated Nsekera.
The Marsabit based organisation shares information on life skills and creates a safe space for adolescent girls to learn and play football.
“This award is an important recognition and puts the wind behind our sails and means the work we are doing is important and it gives a lot of confidence to young women in northern Kenya that we are on the right track,” remarked HODI's Noor Abdulkadir who received the award on behalf of the organisation.
HODI was selected as the winner of the FIFA Diversity Award 2018 by a high profile 11 strong jury comprising global experts in tackling discrimination and renowned figures from the football world.
The Kenyan organisation was invited to form the jury of the FIFA Diversity Award for the 2019 edition.
The award, that started in 2016, has seen three winners crowned with two of them coming from Africa.
