As International Women’s Day 2026 approaches under the theme “Give to Gain,” Rael Nyte of Kenya embodies what it means to give with purpose, and to trust that impact will follow.

“To me, ‘Give to Gain’ means giving intentionally to create change,” Rael says. “Sometimes you don’t see the results immediately. But when you invest consistently in others, the return comes — often in ways you never expected.”

Her journey from rural Kenya to the international hockey stage and into global leadership spaces is built on that belief.

Forged by Adversity

Rael Nyte grew up in rural Kenya as the eldest of five children. Responsibility arrived early. She fetched water, carried firewood and helped raise her siblings long before she was a teenager. Poverty shaped daily life, and stability was not always guaranteed.

Sport was not part of her family’s vision for the future. In fact, hockey entered her life almost by accident.

“I was looking for belonging,” she recalls. “Hockey became that space.”

Without structured support, proper equipment or clear pathways, Rael fought to stay in the game. Representing Kenya internationally was not simply achievement — it was breakthrough. Hockey gave her firsts she had never imagined: travel, exposure, income to support her family, and a wider world beyond her village.

“Kenya shaped my resilience,” she says. “I know what it means to struggle, and I know what it means to survive because of sport.”

Bridging Two Worlds

When Rael later moved to the United States, she encountered a different sporting ecosystem, one built on structure, mentorship and opportunity. Coaches and peers opened doors. She became a club and high school coach, served within USA Field Hockey structures, and went on to work as a PAHF Technical Official.

Rather than leaving her roots behind, Rael built a bridge between continents.

She brought knowledge, standards and global exposure back to Kenya, while connecting rural athletes to international networks. Years of volunteer service established credibility and trust, forming the foundation for equipment drives, mentorship programmes and fundraising initiatives that now support her work back home.

“Support didn’t begin with asking,” she explains. “It began with showing up.”

Tunza: More Than a Sports Programme

Determined to address the gaps she once faced, Rael founded the Tunza Sports Foundation.

Tunza uses hockey as an entry point, but its mission runs deeper. It supports girls in rural Kenya who face poverty, early marriage, harmful cultural practices and limited access to education.

“Tunza was designed to be a protective structure,” Rael says. “A place where girls are seen, supported and given the chance to dream beyond survival.”

The programme combines sport and education in a structured pathway. Coaches monitor attendance, academic progress and wellbeing. Families are engaged directly. Support often extends to school fees, basic necessities and household stability.

Sport becomes both shield and springboard — building confidence, creating safe spaces, and identifying risks before they escalate.

Changing Perceptions, Creating Pathways

One of Tunza’s defining milestones came in 2025, when six girls who began in the programme in primary school earned scholarships to play college hockey in the United States.

They had already helped their high school win a long-awaited national title — but the college pathway shifted perceptions entirely.

“In our communities, sport was often seen as a distraction,” Rael explains. “Now families see it as a pathway to education and opportunity.”

The success validated Tunza’s 50–50 academic and sport model and strengthened community belief. Younger girls now train with clearer purpose. Schools engage more seriously. The ripple effect is generational.

The True Meaning of “Give to Gain”

Building Tunza required personal sacrifice. In its early years, Rael funded it largely from her own income, often without immediate evidence that the model would succeed.

“There were moments of doubt,” she admits. “But meaningful gain is never instant.”

Over time, the return has multiplied — in trust, credibility, cultural shifts and empowered young women rewriting their futures.

“Giving is like planting seeds,” Rael reflects. “After many days, you find the fruit.”

A Message to Girls Across Africa

Spekaing to young girls today, her message is clear:

“Your dreams are valid. Stay disciplined. Stay in school. Prepare yourself so that when opportunity finds you, you are ready.”

She knows the journey will not be easy. She also knows it is possible.

“I grew up where resources were limited, but dreams were not,” she says. “I am living proof.”

As International Women’s Day 2026 reminds the world to Give to Gain, Rael Nyte’s story stands as powerful evidence: when women invest in others with courage and consistency, the return is not only personal — it transforms communities.

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