Grassroot Soccer at the Football for Hope Festival 2010
It’s a Saturday at Leresche Primary School in Soweto, South Africa’s largest township just outside of Johannesburg. Four groups of boys and girls stretch and jostle for position, desperately trying to get hold of the ball in play. They jump up with hands reaching to the sky, repeatedly calling “Coach! Coach!” in hopes of receiving a pass. Finally, a young girl gains the attention of the coach and the ball bounces her way. She gathers it as the rest of circle falls quiet. She stands up proudly and tells everyone why she thinks that 18 is the right age for a young person to start having sex.
When she’s done, the hands fly up again as other kids eagerly try to share their opinion. The ball moves around the circle and more Grassroot Soccer participants enter into the debate. “21 years old,” “24!”, “36”, they say as coaches and peers challenge each other to reason through their responses. The group does not settle on an official age through this lively discussion, but the themes of responsibility, choice and family clearly show the knowledge gained by the participants throughout the week.
Grassroot Soccer training
These enthusiastic youth were participants in an activity called “Talk Show” on the final day of Grassroot Soccer’s Skillz Holiday program. Integrating soccer with the activity-based HIV prevention Skillz curriculum, the weeklong Skillz Holiday intervention emphasizes meaningful discussion about HIV and AIDS. On this day, the holder of the ball sought the chance to answer a question about the right age to start having sex, to discuss the dangers of multiple sexual partners, or to speak about how to protect oneself from HIV.
Grassroot Soccer kids in discussion
With 57 Skillz Holiday programs held across South Africa during the four weeks of the World Cup, Grassroot Soccer (GRS) provided young people with a safe space to play sports, learn important lessons and make new friends. By the end of the World Cup, approximately 6,000 youth will have graduated from Skillz Holiday – armed with the knowledge, skills and support to live HIV free.
To further the legacy of the World Cup in Africa’s fight against HIV, GRS partnered with the Sony Ticket Fund to provide 15,000 children and young adults with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a World Cup match. The Sony Ticket Fund also provided 25 Skillz graduates with the opportunity to serve as Official Flag-Bearers, carrying the FIFA flag onto the field during match openings in their home cities. Selected by GRS Coaches during Skillz Holiday programs, these youth are role models in their communities.
The GRS Coaches all work in communities in which they are from. At the heart of the program is the relationship between the coach and the participant. During a lesson called “Coaches Story” each coach shares his or her personal connection to HIV and AIDS with the GRS team. To be truly impactful the coach much care, communicate and lead. As members of the Laureus-funded African Leadership Program, Skillz Coaches go through vigorous training in order to facilitate such vital conversations with youth.
After the camp certificates show their achievement and can "Make their Move"
At the end of camp, each graduate receives a certificate, symbolizing their achievement and reminding them to put their learning into action – to “Make their Move” in the fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
Have a look at grsworldcup for further infromation.
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