Grassroot Soccer: A Primer

As I'm entering the final countdown here in the good ol' US of A, I wanted to take a few moments to introduce Grassroot Soccer, talk about what the organization does, where they work, and in what capacity/area I will be contributing. I'm also going to try (emphasis on the word try) to attach some youtube videos, produced by GRS, to help further your understanding of how this program is implemented at a "grassroots" level.

Grassroot Soccer: A Primer

Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is a South African based NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that uses the global power of soccer in the fight against HIV and AIDS. GRS seeks to utilize the international popularity of soccer as a vehicle for delivering critical information and education about HIV/AIDS to kids and young adults in sub-Saharan Africa. By fusing soccer with more traditional approaches (in global health) like social theory, public health methodologies and research/development, GRS has created one of the most innovative and effective HIV prevention programs in the world.

As an intern for GRS I will be assisting with every aspect of the program, from research and fundraising to education and curriculum development. More specifically, I will be assisting in the planning and implementation of youth-targeted HIV prevention programs, networking with community organizations, promoting GRS programs and services, planning and coordinating community events and helping to monitor and evaluate the program's success.

Quick Facts

· GRS was founded by former professional soccer players in 2002 and is supported by organizations such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNAIDS, Nike, The Ford Foundation, Sony, Barclays and many more.

· Last year, on March 4th, Grassroot Soccer was named one of three winners of the Ashoka/Nike Sport for a Better World Collaborative Competition. In all, 382 Sports for Development organizations from 69 countries submitted entries for the collaborative competition.

· Numerous formal evaluations-conducted by Stanford University's Children's Health Council, consultants from The Population Council and The Harvard School of Public Health, and researchers from Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Cape Town-have documented Grassroot Soccer's effectiveness.

· GRS has provided comprehensive HIV prevention and life skills education to more than 270,000 young people throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

And so it begins...almost

Well, my Grassroot Soccer (GRS) journey has officially begun...almost. I still have to work out some of the logistical aspects of actually getting to Africa. This small detail is unfortunately proving more difficult than I initially anticipated, especially given my natural inclination to...um...procrastinate. Fear not though, my Mom has gone into full time "nag mode" (just kidding mom, sort of) and it's beginning to look like I may actually make it to South Africa after all. I still have some details to smooth out and the not so small task of packing, but other than that, I'm just about ready to go. I will post more information about my location, job and GRS a little later, I'm still trying to figure this whole blog thing out.