In 2023 coaches Eliakim Otieno Ogenga and Jennifer Oldham met as peers in the International Coaching Enrichment Coaching Program (ICECP). As graduates of the class of 2024, they were charged with using the tools and skills they learned to support the Olympic dream.
The ICECP Graduating Class of 2024 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
As the excitement for the Olympic Games builds, so does passion for the mission of the ICECP program: creating pathways and working to unlock opportunities through sport while building robust safeguarding mechanisms are a common goal of graduates. This practical program focuses on developing proficiencies in the areas of sport sciences, talent identification, athlete development, coaching education, coaching management, grassroots sport development, and ethical aspects of coaching.
Launching Fencing in Kenya
Today Forge Fencing and the Lutheran World Federation are excited to share that they are collaborating in order to inspire the development of fencing structures in Kenya. The project's long-term vision is to support fencing programs for youth and to introduce fencing to universities across Kenya.
Coaches Jeff and Jen will be working together to launch fencing in Kakuma, a refugee camp, which will align with the program’s focus using sport as protection of children’s development. The goal, as explained by the U.N. Refugee Agency, is to use “sport as a tool to support children and youth to develop life skills and capacities to protect themselves whilst providing opportunities for meaningful engagement with positive role models (such as coaches and facilitators) in a safe and inclusive space.”
Taekwondo Youth and Children's Protection and Empowerment Initiative in Kenya
U.S.-based coaches Jen Oldham and Jeff Kallio are supporting this initiative by securing equipment, providing instruction for an introduction to fencing, and connecting long-term relationships for online training aimed at developing athletes, coaches and referees. Their efforts are focused on building a long-term, sustainable programing that fosters both sport protection and talent development.
University Fencing Program Development
Forge Fencing is teaming up with Kibabii University’s Center for Creative Performing Arts and Sports (CCPAS), Maseno University, and United States International University (USIU) Kenya in order to introduce fencing to their sport curriculum and support a long-term vision for sport development in the area.
On September 2, 2025, Prof. Vincent O. Onywera, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at KCA University, will host US coaches Jennifer Oldham and Jeff Kallio along with Coach Educator Eliakim Otieno Ogenga to launch a fencing program for children from nearby informal settlements. Prof. Onywera will support six local coaches — three women and three men — through specialized training to help grow the sport in Kenya. Rooted in the International Coaching Enrichment Program (ICECP), the effort reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to Olympic sport and advancing the Olympic dream.
This collaboration marks an exciting step for fencing in Africa, aiming to build a sustainable collegiate program that enriches not only athletic performance but also the overall development of the whole person.
In-person training sessions will focus on:
In addition to meeting with the universities, plans will also include:
Through these university collaborations, Forge Fencing and its partners are laying the foundation for a regional hub of fencing excellence, combining sport, education, and cultural exchange. This effort not only strengthens the fencing community but also creates new opportunities for athletes in Kenya to connect with international pathways, including collegiate competition and the World University Games (FISU) located in North Carolina in 2029.
Forge Fencing in Durham, NC at a Priority on Youth Developmental Tournament
Volleyball in Kakuma
Kalobeyei Sports Complex offers a community for all.
Acknowledgements & Gratitude
Much individual and organizational support has brought us where we are today. We would like to acknowledge these organizations for their role in this project’s development:
If you would like to support future efforts - whether by providing free access to online coaching education or by helping with equipment donations - please reach out to us. Together, we can open new doors for athletes and help grow fencing in Kenya.
Coach Jen Oldham
jen@forgefencing.com
Coach Jeff Kallio
jeff@forgefencing.com
