Grassroot Soccer (GRS) recently joined innovators and changemakers from across government, regional entities, academics, NGOs, CSOs, global agencies and the private sector for the 2018 International Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.
The summit was hosted by international and local advocates including the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, The Communication Initiative, Soul City Institute, UNICEF and BBC Media Action. Representatives from GRS included Ilana Cohen, Sikhumbuzo Mnculwane, and Stephan Pretorius who highlighted the impact of our tailored Three A’s and Three C’s impact models.
At the heart of the summit was a focus on people-centered design. GRS was proud to showcase our work alongside Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI) implementing adapted SKILLZ Guyz interventions that target adolescent boys ages 13-16 in Nigeria. Formative research in South Africa has shown that GRS programming in an all-male setting, using male mentors, can be effective in decreasing drug use and increasing HIV counseling and testing uptake among male participants.
Pictured: An overview of SKILLZ Guyz curriculum for adolescent boys
In addition to highlighting GRS’s thought leadership efforts to an international audience, representatives from GRS were able to share the specific yet contagious culture that embodies the spirit of our organization. GRS Coaches are trained on the Big 5 – creating safe spaces, building personal connections, providing behavior-based praise, engaging participants in vital conversations, and delivering accurate health information in a relatable way. For a more intimate look, watch the video below for a special KILO!