This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating all the amazing women who participate in raising health and safety awareness! We wish to spotlight Halima Bakari, Winner Helpfie Spot a Safety Resource Campaign.
Halima is a proud mom of two girls, a sports enthusiast and currently serves as Sports Coach/Coordinator at United States International University — Africa (USIU). She admits that working at USIU has given her a platform to improve on her profession in sports because she gets to work with some very talented players given USIU attracts players who’ve gone on to emerge at the top of their sport. USIU teams also participate in prestigious international championships and national federation leagues. Most notably, the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) 3 on 3 Championship, East African Games, Africa Club Championship, Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) Nationals among others.
Halima’s interest in sports dates back to her childhood days when she’d secretly skip Madrasa sessions to hit the pool, only to have to admit it later to her parents and siblings. When it became evident that her interest in sports was growing, Halima pursued a degree in Sports Management at Kenyatta University and thereafter took on a role as a swimming coach at Nairobi Primary School and Mt. Kenya University where her competitive swimming experience secured these swim teams a spot in national competitions.
Halima admits that she has a soft spot for Volleyball, a sport she has excelled in as a Setter for notable volleyball clubs including the Kenya Commercial Bank, and the Kenya Pipeline Sports Clubs and going on to scoop the Best Setter award in East & Central Africa. She is now one of the Coaches in the federation. She has had an opportunity to serve as an Assistant Coach for the National Women’s volleyball team for the U23 World Cup (Mexico) and U20 qualifiers (Kenya). Halima is also a Swimming Coach and was the Team Manager for the University’s team in the World University Games (Napoli, Italy).
Halima is keen that her players excel both in academics and sports. She recognizes that the discipline, hard work ethic and grit that these athletes get from sports should eventually rub onto their academic work. As a member of the Kenya Volleyball Coach Commission and the Women in Sports Commission, Halima is involved in conducting workshops that address some of the gaps facing athletes in Kenya.
A few months ago, Halima heard about the Helpfie Spot a Safety Resource Campaign from a colleague, when she was away visiting family down at the Kenyan Coast. Upon her return, she went to task and shared safety resources available in the facilities she works from. Halima understands first hand, the importance of having safety resources (things like an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a well stocked first aid box) and the importance of rallying these resources while administering life saving first aid/emergency care in those moments following a sports -related emergency.
This International Women’s Day, please join us in celebrating Halima Bakari, Winner Helpfie Spot a Safety Resource Campaign, for her role in shaping the next generation of athletes in Kenya and for her contribution in health and safety campaigns.