National Condom week

The week of February 13 is  STI/Condom and pregnancy week in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area. It is also known as "Condom Week." The idea is to capitalize on Valentine's day week to promote safe sex through proper and consistent use of condoms; getting tested for HIV and STIs (Sexually transmitted diseases); encouraging faithfulness and abstinence as a means of avoiding HIV.

The theme this year is "Lead and Unite to strengthen reproductive health." - and the sub theme is "Love me enough to protect me from STI's and unwanted pregnancy."

Various events have been hosted by the ATICC HIV/AIDS Unit, an initiative established by the local metro municipality to collaborate with organizations in the metro and surrounding areas focusing on the HIV/AIDS response. ATICC stands for AIDS Training, Information and Counselling Centre (ATICC)


Yesterday evening, the staff and 7 of our coaches attended a "Trucking Wellness" clinic at the Motherwell truck-stop point*. The idea is to bring awareness and encouragement to truck drivers who are seen as a high risk group as far as HIV contraction goes. The amount of traveling they do exposes them to the temptation of sexual encounters for money. Prostitution is rife in such settings, and an initiative like this aims to promote condom use. Although this is not a demographic GRS normally works with, we were happy to attend and  our coaches led a Skillz activity (Find the Ball) with attendees. There were other activities and messages imparted by other organizations followed by a braai/barbecue for all in attendance.

I want to say the event was beneficial for the handful of truckers that were in attendance, but like all things in life - the real difference is in the heat of the moment when decisions are left to the individual. During the event one of the truck drivers spoke up, thanking the organizations for taking the time to spread the word about condoms to him and his colleagues but he did raise a concern about coverage of such awareness programs. He urged our organization and others to go to smaller towns with the same messages, and events in the interest of all involved. A worthy statement, that I hope was heard and perhaps more will be done to reach more marginalized areas in the country.

* The Trucker Wellness clinic operates under the auspices of the Road Freight Association that provides support services for the road freight industry throughout the country. The representative of the RFA was a guest speaker and he stated the importance of such an event, as HIV/AIDS has negatively impacted an industry that transports 80% of goods in the economy he reminded us.

Skillz Street in pictures

On December 6th we had our last Skillz Street. I plan on putting out a detailed blog highlighting what each practice was about and my impressions of it later this weekend. But for now here are some pictures from the Red location museum where we had the intervention:

An aerial view of the Red location museum .

Coach Amy leads an energizer with some of the kids:

Coaches, G and Zoe explain the Skillz contract to their group of girls:

The opening circle (we had one at the beginning of each section).

The museum in the background:

The Red Location community surrounds the museum:

KILO!

(demonstration of a Kilo! at one of the GRS sites)

Today was a special day. Perhaps the biggest moment of clarity in this whole internship experience. Grassroot Soccer is an organization like no other and the culture and tone of the organization is truly inspirational. Today I got to meet most of the GRS coaches based in Port Elizabeth, as they all attended one of their weekly development sessions in the PE Office at Sithembile primary school. These special people deliver crucial messages concerning HIV/AIDS to at risk kids in the community.

I must say I was unsure how this experience would go, considering the fact that I am still finding my feet here. However I could not have felt more welcomed and crucially, energized!

Part of the development sessions are opportunities for 3 coaches to teach one lesson each to the other coaches. This gives them the opportunity to practice and perfect a curriculum that is very specific in its aims at sending the right messages to the kids that receive instruction. The coaches are a happy bunch, whose role in the community is crucial. Their role in the organization is crucial also in itself considering that they directly impact the youths whose lives will hopefully be impacted positively by the work Grassroot Soccer.

I got my first KILO today! This is an expression of praise used with the kids the coaches work. If a person does something commendable the rest of the group gives that person a Kilo! (2 claps and a loud Whoooooooooo). Praise is crucial to GRS's work, considering the work they do and the kids they aim to reach I've grown to understand the importance of positive reinforcement for kids. At the development session there must have been 20 Kilos! which was new to me, but the level of energy was maintained start to finish. I got mine after answering a question correctly.

We have another development session tomorrow, can't wait to see how this one goes. I'd also like to learn all the coach's names. So far I have about 7, we'll have to see how I do.