About 3 weeks ago my coach here in Limbe gave me a manual about using Football to teach kids about HIV/AIDS. With my older group of AVFAL players, aged anywhere from 15-18, I have employed a couple of these drills in the past couple of weeks. My 3 months here have provided A LOT of amazing experiences where I was able to see my efforts making a difference somewhere in the community but few have been as perfect as this...
On Tuesday October 2, 2012, I ran a training session with 10 of the older players. We took full advantage of the half of the Victoria Centenary Stadium pitch, which we rarely get to use, to run a full-scale ball possession drill. A strictly football-related drill.
Once we were kicked off the field by the Limbe Premier League team, I arranged another drill with an area of about 20'x20' for the players to roam. I gave out 7 balls to 9 players and one other player was not given a ball and asked that he represent HIV. The balls represented condoms. The player representing HIV had to run around trying to touch the players without a ball. If a player was touched by HIV without protection (a Condom/Ball), then they were infected. If a player with protection (a Condom/Ball) saw another player being chased by HIV, they had to pass the condom to their teammate to protect them.
From a football point of view this drill emphasized ball control, communication, proper passing techniques and awareness of where your teammates are on the pitch. From an HIV/AIDS awareness point of view, it emphasized the importance of using condoms in preventing contraction of the disease as well as a basic understanding of the progression of the disease. I.e. if you were touched by the HIV player twice without a condom, you progress from healthy, to HIV, to AIDS.
It was pretty amazing to be able to use football to send a message like that. I came to Africa to see programmes like this implemented and it was truly rewarding to see my goals and objectives realized right before my eyes. The best part of it was that the participation level was so high, all of the players bought into it, asked questions, and understood the drill from a football and HIV/AIDS awareness perspective.
When I return to Toronto I will be able to look back on this 3 month adventure and be proud of a lot of my accomplishments, but this one will stand out.
Sport for Development Realized ... and it feels good.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Monday, 1 October 2012
Mr. John Molua
In the last string of pictures I posted, there was one of my good friend John Molua and I. I wanted to go into a little more detail about our friendship and what has transpired.
A couple of weeks ago John showed me an article in a local paper from last year where he was interviewed about a football tournament he organized. I had no idea he was so involved in the community.
Currently, John is as a second division football player in Limbe. His is only paid for his time to get to and from matches. This tournament helped to keep him busy, put a little food in his stomach as well as provide a valuable service to his communtiy.
He told me about the goals he has set out for himself with the tournament and as a football player and I wanted to help in any way I could. I have already introduced him to my personal trainer here in town, Theodore who is from Yaounde. He is currently working on a scouting system in Cameroon that would help get local players noticed by international clubs. But I also wanted to help with the direction of his tournament.
I gave him some of the articles I had printed off and brought with me that talk about using sport for development in Africa which he has devoured and thanked me numerous times. I discussed my frustration with tournaments here in town that say things like "Football Tournament to Tackle HIV/AIDS" and then do NOTHING to tackle HIV/AIDS. I offered a solution. I have with me a great manual written by the UK Charity 'Tackle Africa' that provides the reader with great ideas for football drills that can be applied to the football pitch as well as HIV/AIDS awareness. I have already employed a couple of these drills in my practices with AVFAL. They went great!
I offered John a list of HIV/AIDS facts and some True and False statements to help with awareness that he can print on pamphlets and give away to spectators and teams at the tournament. I also offered to arrange for condoms to be shipped from Canada to him in Limbe so that he can distribute condoms to those involved and interested.
John has been a consistent source of support and friendship during these past 10 weeks and I think he summed up our friendship beautifully the other day when I asked him to write me a message in my journal.
"It took a day to know you but it would take a lifetime to forget you!"
Now those of you that know me well know that I am not poetic enough to make that up. John is one of my closest friends here in Limbe and I was happy to help him with his goals and aspirations in any way I can!
A couple of weeks ago John showed me an article in a local paper from last year where he was interviewed about a football tournament he organized. I had no idea he was so involved in the community.
Currently, John is as a second division football player in Limbe. His is only paid for his time to get to and from matches. This tournament helped to keep him busy, put a little food in his stomach as well as provide a valuable service to his communtiy.
He told me about the goals he has set out for himself with the tournament and as a football player and I wanted to help in any way I could. I have already introduced him to my personal trainer here in town, Theodore who is from Yaounde. He is currently working on a scouting system in Cameroon that would help get local players noticed by international clubs. But I also wanted to help with the direction of his tournament.
I gave him some of the articles I had printed off and brought with me that talk about using sport for development in Africa which he has devoured and thanked me numerous times. I discussed my frustration with tournaments here in town that say things like "Football Tournament to Tackle HIV/AIDS" and then do NOTHING to tackle HIV/AIDS. I offered a solution. I have with me a great manual written by the UK Charity 'Tackle Africa' that provides the reader with great ideas for football drills that can be applied to the football pitch as well as HIV/AIDS awareness. I have already employed a couple of these drills in my practices with AVFAL. They went great!
I offered John a list of HIV/AIDS facts and some True and False statements to help with awareness that he can print on pamphlets and give away to spectators and teams at the tournament. I also offered to arrange for condoms to be shipped from Canada to him in Limbe so that he can distribute condoms to those involved and interested.
John has been a consistent source of support and friendship during these past 10 weeks and I think he summed up our friendship beautifully the other day when I asked him to write me a message in my journal.
"It took a day to know you but it would take a lifetime to forget you!"
Now those of you that know me well know that I am not poetic enough to make that up. John is one of my closest friends here in Limbe and I was happy to help him with his goals and aspirations in any way I can!
Sunday, 30 September 2012
Climbing the rope ladder out of the rainforest to the Debunscha Lake
P.S. I wrote a Blog Post for my 10 week mark called "10 down, 2 to go" I have since posted a lot of pictures and the post has been pushed to page 2 of my Blog. Please scroll down and enjoy the post! Sorry for the inconvenience. Next time pictures will come first, promise.
Obi enjoying AVFAL's new keeper gloves!
FYI - Obi's nickname is Mr. Official because of the one day he forgot his shoes and acted as the match's official. He gave me 3 yellow cards.
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