When you give everything, you lose nothing!

Photos of AIDS by Kristen Ashburn

Lion Hearts Arise!

In less than a month I will be settling into my new site, in Port Elizabeth. My Field Internship with Grassroot Soccer's Programs division begins!

I am very grateful for all the support I have received from readers like you. I have managed to raise enough to fly to South Africa, and cover initial expenses associated with the internship (See left pane for details). The comments and feedback I have been receiving, from friends, family, supporters and observers alike has been inspirational. The more I hear from people the more responsible I feel. I am part of an organization doing innovative work in dealing with one of mankind's biggest challenges. I firmly believe in the work the organization does and I hope to be able to reflect on it via this blog. Thank you for your support, and keep supporting worthy causes! We needs hearts of lions to conquer the disasters of today!

Question: If your life expectancy was a little over 30, would you fight back?



Ever since, I was a little boy, the lion has always been my favorite animal. In high school I was in a dorm (or House as we called them) whose emblem was "Shumba" (lion in my native Shona language) Today I still hold affection, for the most regal of beasts in the African Savannah where conditions can be harsh, but survivors thrive and adapt. Before I start likening HIV/AIDS to a lion's prey I would like to say that I believe in fighting the disease head on with no fear and with courage. All the great work being done around the world, especially on the African continent is admirable. Uganda and Botswana have seen significant drops in infection rates, and work to engage the youth and help those already infected is extremely important. This disease will not be beaten by half steps, false promises and weak action. It rather needs conscious, deliberate and bold efforts to make it history. A lot of it points to a change in behavior on an individual level, but education to spur these individual choices is important too. I'll borrow a phrase from Hans Rosling, who refuses to call himself an optimist or a pessimist but a possibilist.

Optimism sometimes leads us to pass of responsibility to others and pessimism tends to drive people to do nothing, neither is beneficial to the hundreds of thousands of children or people without access to HIV/AIDS education who may contract the disease because of a lack of adequate knowledge.

I want to thank you for reading this post to the end, which means you care. Lets strive to be possibilists and make things happen where we are, it all counts. Check out the Grassroot Soccer website and check out the important work they are doing to reach children in sub-Saharan Africa. Whatever charity you choose to support or action you take, you are actively investing in the possibility of less and less people becoming infected by the scourge to our society that is HIV AIDS.

Let lion hearts arise and win!

Before you go! Check out this quote from Abraham Lincoln, I believe it is extremely relevant in the present discussion on AIDS:

It is not “can any of us imagine better?” but, “can we all do better?” The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise — with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew.' Abraham Lincoln

Nike Football Training Center Soweto

Nike opens up a training Center in Soweto, focusing on giving South African kids the opportunity to access world class football facilities. The center also will give 20,000 young footballers a year the chance to develop their football talent while also having access to HIV/AIDS education through football life skills programming. Nike(RED) has handed 16 grants worth $450,000 to organizations involved in HIV/AIDS prevention across the continent. Grassroot Soccer was among the recepients.

Nike Football Training Center Soweto from Highsnobiety on Vimeo.

Nike #ENDAIDS Campaign

Nike paints a picture of what the future could look like, we can all "Write the Future" by supporting organizations like Grassroot Soccer:

Grassroot Soccer feature

The Managing director of the IMF kicks it with the kids before the World Cup.

Give EverYthing, Lose Nothing!

The International AIDS conference.

The International AIDS conference began yesterday in Vienna. The International AIDS Society which hosts the biannual conference focuses on education, networking and the promotion of best practices in the response to HIV/AIDS. The conferences provide opportunities to share experience, and increase the knowledge and expertise of professionals working in HIV/AIDS. Grassroot Soccer will be represented at the conference as a key player in the fight against HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.

The conference is the largest regular conference on any health or development issue, sensible considering the impact the HIV virus has had across the world.

I looked around the web to find out more about the conference and where the fight against HIV/AIDS is at the moment:

You can check out the conference website here.

Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, blogs about A Roadmap of HIV Prevention here.

AIDS activists exhort world leaders to fix the broken promises made in prior years on providing AIDS care and drugs to those who need it most.

Video of activists upstaging the opening ceremony of the conference, again highlighting "broken promises" by world leaders:



The Youth version of the 2010 conference will be based in Vienna too, here is their wensite.

Reuters video highlighting the important work Voluntary Testing and Counseling centers (VCTs) do for the deaf in Kenya:



Press release from the GRS website:

"A new study, released by Coxswain Social Investment, finds football programs are uniquely successful in preventing the spread of HIV. As World Cup mania winds down and preparations for the International AIDS Conference accelerate, this is a significant finding for the African continent.

The study, “Using Football for HIV/AIDS Prevention in Africa”, was conducted in the months leading up to the World Cup. The question for the researchers was, “Football has tremendous convening power, but do football‐based programs really make a difference in preventing HIV?” According to the study, the answer is unequivocally ‐ yes.

Most importantly, the study found football programs can lead to profound behavior change, which is the key to prevention. All successful cases of reversing national HIV epidemics involved widespread changes in behavior.

The study also highlighted that football programs are successful with hard‐to‐reach audiences and at tackling sensitive issues within the safety of the team. Because of its appeal to young audiences, football can reach those most at risk. Half of all new infections in sub‐Saharan Africa occur between the ages of 15 and 24.

Coxswain Social Investment (CSI+) conducted the study using interviews, research, and survey questionnaires. While it is not a UNAIDS study, experts from UNAIDS contributed their time, experience, and resources to the evaluation. It is a legacy product of the Football for an HIV‐Free Generation Initiative. Charlotte Obidairo will represent CSI+ at the 2010 International AIDS Conference in Vienna.

Download the study here: http://www.coxsi.com/News.html


The United States HIV/AIDS Strategy (domestic focus):

World Cup's over, now what?

Congratulations to South Africa, the African country successfully hosted the biggest event in the world. Although I am not in South Africa yet, all reports have cited a great tournament filled with superb atmosphere and fairly efficient delivery of services. It was not a perfect tournament, but put into perspective the event was a phenomenal success. It certainly more than trumped the negative comments of naysayers.

Problems abound all over the continent, but what the World Cup does is provide inspiration to Africans and to the rest of the world. A reflection of Africa's can do attitude! Too much attention has historically been placed on problems in media outlets all around the world. I hope the successful hosting of the World Cup by South Africa will lead to more positive outcomes emerging from the various initiatives around the continent seeking positive change in less well to do societies.

There are increasing number of organizations working in Africa and around thge world that use soccer as a means of engagement in places where the game is wildly popular and where various problems now require inventive solutions. Streetfootball world is a FIFA partner that seeks to link organizations applying innovative solutions using the sport around the world.

Here is how they describe themselves on their website:

"Streetfootballworld is a social profit organiZation that links relevant actors in the field of Development through Football. Established in 2002, the organization encourages global partnerships for development in order to contribute to positive social change.

The streetfootballworld network comprises more than 80 local initiatives worldwide. With the network's support, streetfootballworld develops approaches to social challenges by working with governments, businesses and NGOs, and providing advice on development, investment and business strategy." http://www.streetfootballworld.org/

Grassroot Soccer is part of the streetfootballworld network. A quick look at their website reveals the many different initiatives around the world making positive changes through sport.

Alongside FIFA streetfootballworld is working on the Football For Hope program which uses sports to help achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Video giving a brief overview of what GRS and promoting my internship!

Grassroot Soccer: Making a difference, one kick at a time! from Geraldo on Vimeo.

The Castrol Skillz Holiday program in conjunction with Grasssroot Soccer!

The Skillz Holiday Programme was initiated by Castrol and Grassroot Soccer during this months's World Cup in South Africa during the extended school break in the country. The programm delivers important HIV/Aids messages to children through the powerful medium of football.

The program encompasses a total of 45 camps, touching the lives of approximately 4 500 children across the country.

According to Castrol's website, at each camp, 100 learners both boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 16 – participate in a five-day, intense curriculum of life skills education linked with HIV prevention messages using soccer activities to engage and entertain.

Castrol is one of the leading sponsors of 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. According to their website they aim to ensure that the impact of the World Cup on South African communities lasts well beyond the one month the World Cup lasts. Working with local organizations like Grassroot Soccer is an effective means to initiate real change!