Almost a decade ago, Veronica Osogo first entered Kibera where the majority of its inhabitants (1 million) live off less than $1 a day. She brought a few rackets and balls to teach the kids the sport she fell in love with as an adult.
In 2000, Veronica graduated from Guru Nanak Dev University in India with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Afterward, she competed professionally on the African tennis circuit, winning doubles titles in Kenya, Burundi, Tanzania, Sudan, and Ethiopia. When not competing, she coaches on behalf of the Kenya Lawn Tennis Association, the sport’s national governing body, and in 2014 helped the women’s wheelchair tennis team qualify for the BNP Paribas World Team Cup, a historic achievement for her country.
In 2009, Veronica won the Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) award as Kenya’s “Community Hero” for her work.
About Zion Zone Tennis Foundation
Launched in 2006 with the purpose of engaging children through tennis and a range of mentorship activities that promote self-growth and exploration to ultimately, alleviate poverty; Zion Zonw Tennis Foundation has grown from serving 28 students to more than 6000 within 9 years.
Our Vision
Transformative change for children living in vulnerable communities.
Our Mission
Zion Zone Tennis Foundation exists to catalyze the wholesome transformation of children living in vulnerable communities in Kenya through tennis programing and encompassing talent development, mentorship, basic education, life skills development and strategic partnerships with like-minded development actors.
Our Core values
- Innate Potential: We believe in untapped potential. Our focus goes a long way in discovering hidden raw potential.
- Safety and Protection: Every child deserves to be protected from all forms of abuse and violence. We are therefore committed to seeing this a reality within our foundation. We value the safety of our beneficiaries at all times. We have placed all necessary measures and interventions to see these a reality.
- Discipline & Commitment: Tennis Progress requires absolute discipline. We inspire discipline and cultivate this principle so as to promote growth
- Collaboration & Teamwork: We remain committed to championing teamwork within our organization. We are open to partnerships with like-minded actors in promoting our vision and improvement.
KEY MILESTONE
Zion Zone Tennis Foundation is a Community Based Organization with programs in Tennis, Livelihood & Life Skills Development and Scholarship Program. By the end of 2021, Zion Zone Tennis Foundation had reached out to approximately 6,000 persons (including 330 parents, 20 deaf youth and 5650 children) with comprehensive tennis-related services. Since its inception, Zion Zone Tennis Foundation boasts of the only Lawn Tennis program that produces many exceptional tennis players. On average, 20 of our players get the opportunity every year to represent Kenya both at national and international tennis tournaments. In Africa, our elite players have featured in all major tournament events including the Africa Junior Tennis championship, All African Games, CAT 12 & 14 events, ITF 18 & Under, East Africa Championships and Regional Interschools. At the international level, our elite players have featured in the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup on several occasions among other tournaments.
Our Objectives
- To increase the proportion of children with high levels of capacity in life skills by 2025
- To increase the proportion of children with high levels of skills in Tennis sport
- To increase the proportion of YWDs with high levels of skills in Tennis sport
- To increase the proportion of households (from slums) with increased levels of income by 2025
- To increase the proportion of children in tennis sport enrolled in formal schools and posting high performance by 2025