Rise Of The Tegla Loroupe Community

When marathon runner Tegla Loroupe decided to pursue running at a young age, men in her tribe told her: “Tegla, you're wasting your time.” Living in a community that was shattered by warfare and that lacked hope, Loroupe overcame many obstacles and proved them wrong. She grew up on a farm in Kapenguria, Kenya. Her passion for running started at a young age when she realized it was the quickest way to go from place to place. She lived six miles away from school and she had to sprint to get there on time, because students were beaten if they were late. In addition, she ran about a dozen miles twice a week while she herded cattle on the farm. Loroupe always ran barefoot despite the terrain, because shoes were a luxury she could not afford. She

The Tegla Loroupe Foundation “promotes peaceful co-existence and socio-economic development of poor and marginalized people and communities in Northern Kenya and the Greater Horn of Africa Region.” Loroupe’s organization is the only one in Kenya that uses sports as a way to manage tribal conflict. Throughout Africa, conflict occurs every day during the day and at night, which has deteriorated relations between communities and hindered socio economic growth throughout the country. Sports are known for promoting physical and psychological health, but they can also be an effective tool for uniting and creating tolerance between divergent groups. They can be helpful in teaching people how to rebuild trust and confidence between enemies. For example, the organization holds annual peace races where different ethnic groups come together to run, mingle, sing, dance and recite poetry, promoting the theme of peace. In addition to promoting peace, the organization also teaches the values of equity and encourages young women to become leaders. During Loroupe’s interview with Ernst & Young, she recalls telling people when she was younger: “I have two legs like my brothers. Why should my parents or my neighbors refuse women to do sports?” In this statement, she argues that if men have two legs and can run, so can women. Within this organization Loroupe was able to build a school where young men and women living in areas affected by war, disease, and poverty could attend. Education is also used to teach about equality and instill peace in perpetrators of conflict, persuading them from using violence. Loroupe voices the importance of education when she states in her interview: “I always tell them that running is very short term, so if you make money from sponsors, use it to further