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.
Thursday, 23 Jul 09 - 14:00Good sports off to Africa to battle HIV
Chapter 2 of SportStars by Abby Alford, South Wales Echo
SPORTS coaches are heading to Africa to teach children how to protect themselves from the HIV and Aids epidemic sweeping the continent.
With around 5% of the adult population in Kenya and Uganda infected with HIV , specialists from Cardiff-based SportStars told the Echo their summer mission could save lives.
A 12-strong team is set to begin a three-week stint next Wednesday [29th].
The private sports coaching company, which works in schools and with after-school and holiday clubs, has teamed up with the Act4Africa health education charity, which will take staff to the slums of Nairobi in Kenya and the rural villages and communities of Uganda.
Emrys Haugen 24, from Cardiff, who will be leading the SportStars team, said: "We adapt games to have a higher purpose.
"For example, with something as simple as tag, we will designate some children as the HIV virus and some as victims and then we will have blockers which can stop the virus.
"This teaches the children how condoms can prevent HIV being transmitted."
The firm's managing director James Taylor, 28, said he became inspired to help African children after spending time there during a gap year.
And having seen how sports coaching gives children confidence, he said he was determined to combine the two to make a positive difference.
"Africa is a massive passion of mine. I had such a good time working there that I wanted to give something back, so we partnered up with Act4Africa and they are giving us the logistical support to help us achieve that," he said.
"Unfortunately, I can't go on this trip, but I know that not only will the kids get a lot out of this, but that the staff will also get so much from the kids and will come back better and broader-minded people."
Act4Africa's chief executive Martin Smedley said: "SportStars aims and objectives are very much in line with our own – to alleviate poverty through giving young people life skills and confidence building.
"Raising awareness about how to fight and prevent HIV is so important and we encourage all projects that can harness the power of sport to help teach young people how to protect themselves and their partners.
"Without the support from companies like SportStars we would not be able to carry out the important work we do and we are grateful for their support."
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You can read the original article here.
Thursday, 25 Jun 09 - 07:30Sports specialists to act in Africa
Chapter 1 of SportStars by Emma Breeze
Celebrity businessman James Taylor backs SportStar coaching with Act4Africa ..
A team of Cardiff-based sports specialists are heading to Africa this summer to help educate children in some of the country's most deprived areas.
The 12-strong team from SportStars, a company which provides high quality sports coaching for children aged 4 -12, is partnering up with dedicated health education charity Act4Africa to deliver education and behavioural change programmes in an effort to arrest the AIDs pandemic that is threatening the whole continent.
During the three week trip, the team will be working in the slums of Nairobi and in the rural villages and communities of Uganda on the shores of Lake Victoria where they will use sporting activities, like football training, to educate young people about the deadly diseases.
Director of SportStars James Taylor says:"At Sportstars our core vision is to develop bright futures for all children and we are delighted to be sending a team for the first time over to Africa.
"With one in five teenagers in Africa being HIV positive, organisations such as Act4Africa help provide the education needed to prevent HIV spreading further.
"Teaching through sport is a concept that we use with the schools we work with in this country but in this instance we are educating children about preventing and fighting HIV and also showing that having HIV isn't a barrier to participating in sporting activity.
"Not only is this a great way for us to do something positive for a very worthwhile cause, but it is also a great staff development tool for us. The only way we can achieve our aim of developing bright futures for children is to have a team of passionate, well rounded individuals with the necessary skills and experience and this trip will undoubtedly hugely benefit and open the eyes of our talented team."
Needing to raise over £15,000 to fund the trip, the team have already begun fundraising and gathering sponsorship. The team have taken part in charity football matched, held golf tournaments and taken part in several talent shows in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the trip ahead.
As one of the twelve members of the team heading to Africa, SportStars team member Emma Knight, 23, from Cardiff says: "If we are to stop the spread of HIV we need to educate about prevention. I am looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead and I am thrilled to be a part of the team helping to educate young people about the importance of prevention."
Says Martin Smedley, the CEO of Act4Africa: "SportStars aims and objectives are very much in line with our own; to alleviate poverty through giving young people life skills and confidence building. Raising awareness about how to fight and prevent HIV is so important and we encourage all projects that can harness the global power of sport to help teach young people how to protect themselves and their partners.
"Without the support from companies like SportStars we would not be able to carry out the important work we do and we are grateful for their support. Just like us, SportStars is committed to developing bright futures for children and we're looking forward to working closely with the team whilst in Africa to help make a brighter future for the children of Nairobi and Uganda."
The next fundraising event will take place on Saturday 4th July at The University of Glamorgan's playing fields in Treforest, when the SportStars 11 take on Porthcawl Town AFC in a charity football match.
For more information please email info@sport-stars.co.uk.
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PHOTOGRAPH (L-R): Ben Cullen, John Beddow, Ian McIntosh, Lee Williams, Emrys Haugen, Rich O'Dell, Emma Knight, Tom Hatfield, Sophie Morgan, Emma O'Brien, Sophie Williams, James Taylor.
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