Sport4Change

Getting young people to accept messages of HIV/AIDS awareness and in particular behavioral change has often baffled people involved in this sort of work. De Beers, internationally recognized for its work in addressing HIV/AIDS in the workplace, has embarked on a similarly innovative way of working with youth in its communities to strive for healthy and positive lifestyle choices. The medium being used is soccer.

In a partnership with the US-based organisation Grassroot Soccer, the De Beers Fund has made possible a rollout of HIV/AIDS educational programmes that use soccer as a catalyst for broader HIV/AIDS work.

Last year saw Grassroot Soccer pilot this project in areas serving Finsch Mine. Training sessions were held at Lime Acres and in Danielskuil at which future trainers were taught how to use soccer as the vehicle for broader goals of HIV/AIDS prevention. Almost 50 trainers were taken through a course that equips them to undertake training of young people, and then to use associated soccer activities to impress on youngsters various HIV/AIDS-related lifeskills topics such as:

• Understanding routes of transmission;
• Methods of disease prevention;
• Anti-retroviral treatment basics and options;
• Voluntary counselling and testing;
• Effects on lifestyle behaviour of peer pressure;
• Realities of alcohol and drug abuse;
• Stigmas and discrimination that sometimes accompany infection;
• Options that exist for care and support of people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS; and
• How to assess relevant risks and consequences of behaviour.

Once up to speed with the above topics, trainers are sent out to “spread the word” in areas of importance to DBCM – notably in those places from which the mines draw their employees, and to do so in ways that are fun and accessible for young people.

Refresher courses for trainers are also held, and children on the programme are exposed to their peers through such things as HIV Prevention Soccer Camps, and soccer tournaments linked to events like World AIDS Day.

Having successfully planted its roots at Finsch, this programme will be rolled out to communities linked to De Beers’ operations at Venetia, The Oaks, Kimberley and Cullinan during 2007.

News & Reports

Washington Post Profiles Girls Soccer Team Traveling to South Africa To Learn About HIV/AIDS
29/07/2007

The Washington Post on Tuesday 6/26/07 in the first of a series of articles profiled the D.C. Blast -- a Washington, D.C.-based girls' soccer team tha...

Zimbabwe soccer star takes on educator’s role
03/08/2007

The powerful effect of AIDS in Africa inspired international soccer star Methembe Ndlovu not only to help found an organization dedicated to teaching ...