The World Table Tennis Day 2025 celebrations were held in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 23.
This event not only signifies Kenya’s growing influence in the international table tennis scene but also highlights the sport’s powerful role in driving social change at the grassroots level.
Over the past three years, the ITTF Foundation, through its Dream Building Fund (DBF), has collaborated with Vision Changers Kenya on the Hope kwa Vijana Mtaani project.
This initiative has used table tennis as a tool for crime prevention, rehabilitation, and social reintegration, impacting over 880 youth in informal settlements like Mukuru Kwa Njenga and Kariobangi.
The programme’s success is reflected in a noticeable decrease in juvenile offenses, thanks to its focus on community-based, positive engagement.
WTTD 2025 continues to champion the global theme of Diversity and Inclusion, positioning table tennis as a sport that bridges divides across age, gender, ability and background.
The Nairobi celebrations will take place at City Hall and throughout the Mukuru Kwa Njenga area, with a wide range of inclusive activities:
Inclusive tournaments will feature mixed doubles, community challenge matches, and appearances by celebrities to promote fun and unity over competition.
Roundtable discussions will focus on the role of sport in building inclusive communities and how stakeholders can promote diversity.
Exhibitions will highlight the history of table tennis in Kenya and showcase promising local talent.
Community engagement will involve schools, NGOs, and volunteers, with a focus on empowering youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
Cultural performances, including live music and art, will celebrate Kenya’s vibrant heritage and bring the community together.
The ITTF Foundation is calling on communities across the world to join the celebration, register their events, and share their stories, reinforcing the message that table tennis is for everyone.
Nairobi’s hosting of the main WTTD event stands as a testament to the sport’s power to unite, uplift, and inspire, showing that table tennis is more than a game—it’s a global movement for inclusion and change.
