DUBAI, UAE 11 July, 2013 – Grassroot Soccer, a non-profit organisation that uses soccer to educate and empower communities to stop the spread of HIV is working with SanDisk, a global leader in flash memory storage. SanDisk has donated USB flash drives to Grassroot Soccer in order to support Grassroot Soccer’s work with Peace Corps Volunteers worldwide.

SanDisk USB flash drives are a key part of the Grassroot Soccer Peace Corps Skills Toolkit

Peace Corps Volunteers deliver Grassroot Soccer’s innovative HIV prevention programs to youth in some of the most under-resourced communities in the world. Peace Corps Volunteers often live in remote villages where reliable Internet to download resources is often unavailable. By including these materials on a SanDisk flash drive, Grassroot Soccer is able to get important health programs to the areas that need them most.

“Grassroot Soccer has invested heavily in a partnership with the Peace Corps because so many Volunteers believe our tools will work well in their communities, where knowledge about health is low but interest in soccer is high,” explains Kristin Kennedy, GRS Partnerships Manager. “One of the challenges we face is getting materials to the Volunteers who often live many hours from the closest city. To solve this issue, we package all the materials and ship them directly to the Volunteer. The flash drive is an expensive part of the kit, but critical in areas where Internet is unreliable. This donation from SanDisk enables us to stretch our resources and provide materials to many more Peace Corps Volunteers.”

GRS has programs in 23 countries and flagship sites in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Founded by four professional soccer players, Grassroot Soccer works with youth ages 12 – 19 to break the cycle of AIDS by engaging local coaches who equip young people with the knowledge, skills and support they need to stop the spread of HIV.

“SanDisk is proud to work with an organisation that has dedicated itself to a noble cause,” said Brad Bennett, regional marketing manager Middle East & Africa. “Football is a universal language and GRS has tapped into this by empowering and inspiring young men and women, a cause that SanDisk is proud to be part of.”

 

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About the Peace Corps
Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961, more than 210,000 Americans have served in 139 host countries. Today, 8,073 volunteers are working with local communities in 76 host countries in agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth in development. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment and the agency’s mission is to promote world peace and friendship and a better understanding between Americans and people of other countries. Visit http://www.peacecorps.gov for more information.


About Grassroot Soccer

Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 that uses the power of soccer to educate, inspire, and empower communities to stop the spread of HIV. The vision of GRS is a world mobilized through soccer to create an AIDS-free generation. GRS has programs in 23 countries with flagship sites in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Founded by four professional soccer players, Grassroot Soccer is mobilizing the most vulnerable population of youth ages 12 – 19 to break the cycle of AIDS by engaging local coaches who equip young people with the knowledge, skills and support they need to avoid HIV. For more information, visit grassrootsoccer.org.

 

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