Grassroot Soccer Internship: A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words?

Welcome and thank you for visiting my blog! As many of you know, I graduated from Dartmouth in June and was selected to be a Grassroot Soccer field intern. Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is a South-African based NGO founded by former professional soccer players. It intergrates the cross-cultural appeal of soccer with evidence-based HIV prevention and life skills programs that arm African youth with the knowledge, skills, and support to live HIV free. Translating research into action and leveraging the excitement around the 2010 World Cup, GRS attracts and engages African youth through schools, community outreach, and social multimedia. It is focused around the realization that the true power of soccer has always been connections that it creates between people. By using soccer players as role models, and the popularity of soccer to engage hard to reach young people, GRS combines social theory, public health methodologies, rigorous evaluation, and a huge dose of passion. Since 2003, over 270,000 youth in 16 countries have received comprehensive HIV prevention education through programs linked to GRS. By bringing the model to scale through innovative and sustainable partnerships, GRS aims to educate many more by World Cup 2010.

I am truly passionate about this cause and organization. However, in order to participate as an intern, I have been asked to raise $10,000 to cover my living expenses and I am currently $2,000 short of my goal. Please consider supporting me in the fight against HIV/AIDS and making a tax-deductible donation with the icon below. Thank you for the support and I hope you continue to follow this blog as I post updates throughout my internship.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words?

The reaction I got from a bunch of students walking to recess while I was watching an intervention. They love the camera! And what you can't see are the little ones sneaking up behind me to touch my hair - I don't think they'd ever touched a white person's hair and I'm guessing they thought I wouldn't care. It was pretty cute.

These two depict my "fan club" at one of the primary schools where we work every week. We also held our Skillz Street league there so the kids are pretty comfortable with us. They run and crowd our car when we arrive, making it almost impossible to get out. It's a highlight of the week that I never miss.