Tuesday, 01 Jun 10 - 20:30Leeds students join Walk of Hope

Chapter 2 of Walk of Hope 2010 by Laura Henderson

A big thank you and congratulations to the Leeds Metropolitan University Event Management students who put together an event to raise money for Act4Africa's Walk of Hope early in the year, not the brightest of days in the 2010 calendar so far, but everyone remained upbeat and on a high as they took on the challenge of 5.8miles around the very fabulous and stately Harewood House grounds.

You can see the ISpiTV video clip below, and thanks to Kayleigh Dowson for her involvement in organising this.

For more information on how to join the Walk of Hope download our fundaising pack >>Here<<

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Friday, 26 Mar 10 - 12:00The Walk of Hope has started!

Chapter 1 of Walk of Hope 2010 by Rob Davies

The first 120 miles of the 4,162 mile Walk of Hope have been walked! 21 Leeds University students, their friends and other supporters battled against the rain on March 20th to kick-start our biggest ever fundraising event. And they put the icing on the cake with a fabulous comedy night with African drummers in a cocktail bar in Leeds to thank the walkers the week after the event.

Click here to watch a video clip of the walk

The Walk of Hope is all about hundreds of us joining together over the beautiful British spring and summer to collectively walk a mammoth 4162 miles (the distance from our UK office to the first office that Act4Africa set up in Uganda) and raising sponsorship. It's not about actually walking the route to Uganda, just completing the mileage!

We're aiming to recruit 500 walkers to raise £100 each during the Walk of Hope from April to November 2010 - that's a total target of £50,000!

This money will help us:

• Set up new Life Clubs in Africa, giving orphans and vulnerable young people the chance to learn essential life skills and equip them for the jobs market

• Train hundreds of African church and community leaders in how to teach our essential AIDS Prevention Education Programmes, destroying the myths about AIDS and equipping them to lead their own communities towards a healthier future

• Enable the poorest of the poor and those who have been devastated by AIDS to access HIV testing, counselling and practical support, giving hope to those who have none.

If you would like to register your interest, click here to send us an email. Or phone the UK office (number at the bottom of this web-page)

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Tuesday, 25 Aug 09 - 12:00Coaches' AIDS game is a winner in Africa

Chapter 3 of SportStars by Abby Alford, Chief Reporter, South Wales Echo.

SPORTS coaches who traveled to Africa to teach children and adults how to protect themselves from the HIV and Aids epidemic sweeping the continent have described the trip as "unbelievable" and "rewarding".

The team taught a series of workshop and laid on educational games in the slums of Nairobi in Kenya and rural villages in Uganda.

With around 15% of the adults there infected with HIV, the virus that leads to Aids, specialists from Cardiff-base SportStars teamed up with charity Act4Africa to provide help.

Senior Staff member Emrys Haugen, 24, said the 12-strong team who traveIled to Nairobi had to stay in a compound with armed guards and were not allowed out at night for fear they would become victims of a car-jacking or robbery.

"They did a lot of work with the children in the slums and the response was unbelievable they were very appreciative that they had come to work with them," he said. They also did a session with the Nairobi Police."

Mr Haugen said Sporstars coaches would engage with the communities through the games of football and netball before holding workshops.

"We did a workshop called attack and defence where volunteers would put on elephant masks and would have to protect the baby elephants to signify the body's immune system and then HIV would come and take them away to show how it leaves the body susceptible to disease.

"It didn't matter how old they were, they absolutely loved the games."

He said the atmosphere was a lot more relaxed in Uganda where there were fewer safety concerns and they taught in schools that had up to 1000 pupils.

"One day that blew everyone's minds was when we went to an orphanage where 60% of the 65 children were HIV positive.

"It was just staggering that it was the happiest place in the world where the kids were just laughing and jumping around.

"That was a telling day, but a nice day as well as it showed there are people out there taking care of these children.

"Overall it was a hard three weeks for us, but working with the African kids was an unbelievable experience as they are just so energetic and enthusiastic."

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SportStars is a private sports coaching company, which works in schools across Wales and England and with after-school clubs.

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