Using the power of soccer to fight HIV/AIDS

The month of May begun on a super duper note for VAP as it was confirmed a ‘superstar ‘status on Global Giving fundraising platform. It has been a roller coaster ride for VAP on Global Giving ladder of partner rewards with the previous status being a ‘Leaders ‘status. Global Giving was the first partner for VAP and lest we forget, the first second hand Pentium four old skool computer that was purchased at $160 out of $250 Global Giving first funds. That being the first computer to VAP through first funding, it has revolutionized and left a significant mark into VAP’s development up todate.The confirmation of a ‘superstar’ status now positions VAP to: most likely be recommended to a corporate partner, featured in Global Giving social media, and in donor communications, eligible for donor interaction and events, eligible for future trainings, matching campaigns, and other opportunities special for superstars. Besides that VAP will still maintain its existing partner benefits: permanent access to Global Giving’s online fundraising and donor management tools, free monthly training covering topics such as financial management for non-profits, reporting on progress reports etc,inclusion on Global Giving’s employee giving programs with corporate partners, access to Global Giving’s site-wide matching campaigns, eligibility to receive gift card redemptions from donors and ability to post volunteer opportunities on the Global Giving site and its volunteer partner sites.

Training With Coaches Across Continents

For the fifth year VAP played host to Coaches Across continents who conducted a 5 day sports for social impact trainings with 40 coaches drawn from various local clubs and institutions. With social issues crowding our communities and being the focus point, coaches had an opportunity to learn new football themed games geared towards tackling and preventing them. Amongst the new football skills for life games learnt were on: HIV/AIDS, Financial literacy, female empowerment, and environment. With vast majority of the coaches coming from various local teams and institutions that partner with VAP, the learning opportunity created a surplus to their football for life skills buckets already filled in by VAP coaches. For VAP coaches who are widely perceived as local experts and oftenly sought out and consulted by myriad of community members for more information, support or referrals, the trainings supplemented more knowledge and skills in delivering sport based intervention programs.

Coach Of The Month

I came, I saw, I conquered is what would best describe 21 year old, Carol who just joined VAP a couple of months ago. Carol has successfully undergone a training of coaches’ workshop and other monthly meetings and has quickly melted into VAP’s life skills coaching program system. Her rapid learning skills, confidence, self esteem and ability to contextualize programs have been effectively impacting the lives of program participants.”Youth are particularly vulnerable to AIDS .Even though we are hardly hit by AIDS, we are also the greatest force for change and I feel as one of the youth i have a responsibility of changing the lives of young people in this world, and using football is one of the quickest methodologies I love most.”Said Carol

Activities at Kiambiu community slum were brought to a halt for some hours as attention was focused on the community football field where an extra ordinary football showdown pitting world’s most popular sports playing against world’s most common enemy.16 teams comprising of girls from different parts of Nairobi were armed with their football gears ready to play against each other but score against team HIV. The camaraderie of the teams and their quest in scoring against HIV was perfected by not only getting points for winning or drawing in their matches ,but also for participating in the Skillz Kenya activities as well as visiting VCT for HIV testing,TB screening and other services that added extra bonus points to their respective teams.

Off The Pitch Goals

Community members of Kiambiu and its environs were not only entertained by watching team football playing against team HIV, but they also took part supporting and rallying behind team football playing against team HIV.They also had an opportunity of scoring off the pitch by visiting VCT tents to know their HIV status and donating their bonus points to their respective favorite teams. For the first time ever, VAP were putting their new testing tools into work and a total of 181 girls and young women majority of them being first time testers were tested including community members who also benefited from the voluntary medical male circumcision services.Despite Kiambiu community being regarded as a high rising house hold name and a hub for producing best young footballers in the larger Kamukunji constituency, VAP was in the business of doubling up these skills to make Kiambiu football fraternity and the community as a whole to be well known in the attack and prevention of HIV both on and off the field.