Using Sport to Educate and Empower Kids in Africa

2011-12-02T08:39:00.001-08:00

As a 3-time Olympian in Freestyle Skiing/Aerials, I truly understandthe power of sport to make a positive difference in the world. I spent over adecade competing with the world’s best aerial skiers and was fortunate enoughto stand on the medal podium multiple times. However, even better than winningthose 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 playingfield as they were on it.

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

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

Kids PlayInternational’s Programs

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

1) LET’SPLAY! This community-based sports education program provides kids with anopportunity to play on a year-round basis and teaches important life lessonsthrough 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-girlssoccer 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 otherareas of Rwanda, as well as in other countries.

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

3) TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE. We alsoorganize several volunteer trips each year that give individuals the chance totravel with a purpose. The tripscombine volunteer service with an opportunity to explore a new countryalongside Olympic and elite athletes who lead the trips. This past summer, ourvolunteers set up the sports room that now serves as the base for the LET’SPLAY! program in Gatagara, Rwanda and visited area schools to teach new sportsand life skills to the students. We have 3 great trips to Malawi and Rwandalined up for May and June of next year!

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

Wishing you all the best in this holiday season!

Tracy Evans

Kids Play International

Using Sport to Educate and Empower Kids in Africa