Grass Roots Soccer Aids - Zimbabwe
Ubicación
Kirk launched Grassroot Soccer’s flagship program in January of 2003, GRS’s initial program. Today in Bulawayo, GRS trains professional players from the Zimbabwean Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams to deliver 5-day behavior change educational programs to youth. Thanks to our strong ties to the soccer community and key local organizations, their strong and capable local staff continues to graduate more than 200 students per month from this effective program at a time when many other organizations have had to abandon their efforts due to an unstable political climate.
The Bulawayo program was developed in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Ministry of Education, the Bulawayo City Council, Rotary International, and various professional soccer teams.
GRS maintains a strong relationship with the Highlanders FC, a local professional soccer team whose players frequently teach in the program. Since January 2003, approximately 7,000 children ages 12-14 have graduated from the Direct Model program in Bulawayo.
As we all know Zimbabwe is an unstable country but due to the efforts and persistance of this organisations, its staff and the surrounding community it's managed to survive for the sole pupose of educating the youth through football. In an unstable economy the community is vulnerable to this disease and to get children off the streets is highly important.