Friday, December 2, 2011

Using Sport to Educate and Empower Kids in Africa




As a 3-time Olympian in Freestyle Skiing/Aerials, I truly understand the power of sport to make a positive difference in the world. I spent over a decade competing with the world’s best aerial skiers and was fortunate enough to stand on the medal podium multiple times. However, even better than winning those medals was the opportunity that I had every single day to test my limits – both mental and physical. I learned that the Olympic values of fair play, teamwork, excellence, respect and friendship were as important off the playing field as they were on it.

So…no big surprise that when I retired, I wanted to find a way to keep sport in my life! It wasn’t until after I went to Africa on a volunteer trip in 2008 that I figured out how…

On that trip to Malawi I had the chance to use sport to educate kids both on –and off – the field. The kids had almost nothing – many had no parents, only one set of clothes, and usually not enough to eat.  But at heart, they weren’t very different from you or me: they LOVED to play and were thrilled at the chance to learn new sports. After that life-changing experience, I knew that I wanted to use sport to create year-round opportunities for kids in developing countries like Malawi and Rwanda.  So, Kids Play Int’l was born!

Kids Play International’s Programs

Kids Play is currently operating three programs in Africa that support its mission of using sport to educate and empower kids in developing countries:

1)      LET’S PLAY! This community-based sports education program provides kids with an opportunity to play on a year-round basis and teaches important life lessons through sports. Our initial LET’S PLAY! program was launched in Gatagara, Rwanda this past summer, and I’m proud to report that the first all-girls soccer team has been recruited and is competing with other teams in the area! This first LET’S PLAY! program is a model that will be replicated in other areas of Rwanda, as well as in other countries.

2)      KIDS DREAM BIG. In our travels, we’ve discovered that there are many boys and girls who aren’t able to attend school for financial reasons. Through our KIDS DREAM BIG scholarship fund, we’re expanding our work with local authorities in Rwanda to identify and sponsor kids who wouldn’t otherwise have a chance at an education. Education and sport are both at the core of Kids Play’s mission, so this pilot program will be replicated in other areas of Rwanda where Kids Play expands its LET’S PLAY! program.

3)     TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE. We also organize several volunteer trips each year that give individuals the chance to travel with a purpose. The trips combine volunteer service with an opportunity to explore a new country alongside Olympic and elite athletes who lead the trips. This past summer, our volunteers set up the sports room that now serves as the base for the LET’S PLAY! program in Gatagara, Rwanda and visited area schools to teach new sports and life skills to the students. We have 3 great trips to Malawi and Rwanda lined up for May and June of next year!

Thanks for checking out the first post on our new blog! We’re always interested in your thoughts, so feel please comment here or send an email to us at info@kidsplayintl.org.

Wishing you all the best in this holiday season!
Tracy Evans