Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is an international NGO, which uses the power of soccer in an innovative curriculum to educate and empower African youth about their HIV/AIDS risk. GRS trains local coaches to teach the curriculum and to act as role models for the kids. Ultimately, the primary goal of the interventions is to induce behavioral change that will lead to safer sexual behavior and decrease the spread of HIV in the community. GRS has over 400,000 graduates to date, and has worked in 18 countries (mainly in sub Saharan Africa where HIV prevalence is highest in the world). GRS is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Nike, (RED), and many other global partners.
My Internship
This August, I am starting a year-long internship in Cape Town, South Africa. I will be supporting the delivery of programs through the Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town. I will also be working on a very exciting Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) based in South Africa. The RCT will be studying a newly developed GRS curriculum, called "Generation Skillz". Generation Skillz targets high school students and the issue of gender inequality and violence. The RCT was developed in response to research pertaining to gender inequality taken from South Africa; most shockingly, a survey taken in 2009 that found 1 out of 4 men in South Africa admitted to rape (Medical Research Council). The Generation Skillz curriculum promotes discussion of issues of gender roles in South Africa. The RCT will test the effectiveness of the Generation Skillz program over 3 years using HIV and HSV-2 incidence as biomarkers.
The Downside...
Although I am excited to be a part of the Grassroot Soccer team, a girl has got to eat. Grassroot Soccer covers half of the expenses of my internship, and I am responsible for raising the second half, or $10,000. I would appreciate any support you might be able to give. I realize these are difficult economic times but any amount helps and it adds up quickly! If you donate to GRS through the Google Checkout button on the right side of my blog page, the funds will be used to directly support my work in South Africa. You may also send a check made payable to Grassroot Soccer with “Rebecca Hershow’s Internship” in the memo, to P.O. Box 712 Norwich, VT 05055. All donations to GRS, a registered 501©3, are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.
Want to know more?
If you'd like to browse the Grassroot Soccer website, click here.
If you'd like to watch a 5-minute YouTube video that gives a quick overview of the curriculum, click here or click on the top video under the Video Bar on the left side of my blog. The footage for the video is taken at the Football for Hope Centre in Cape Town, so you'll get an idea of where I will be working!
If you'd like to watch another video (arguably better than the one above!), click here. It is set in Lusaka, Zambia and it is really well-made.
Thank you for checking out my blog, I will try to update it as much as possible!
