Grassroot Soccer continues to grow through collaborations and innovative partnerships across the globe. Please check out the new partnerships helping young people build their SKILLZ to thrive. We are thrilled to welcome nine new organizations into the SKILLZ family!
SKILLZ programming in Papua New Guinea
Young Womenās Christian Association, Southstar Sports Development Association, National Youth Development Agency, and Pacific Sports Media Marketing – Papua New Guinea
Based across the Western Pacific country of Papua New Guinea, Grassroot Soccer (GRS) has launched both formal and informal partnerships with the Young Womenās Christian Association (YWCA) of Port Moresby, the Southstar Sports Development Association, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), and Pacific Sports Media Marketing (PSMM). After a collaborative workshop in November 2017 and an insightful coach development workshop in June of this year, partners will be implementing SKILLZ programming across the country focused on malaria prevention and treatment; cultivating healthy relationships amongst men and women and reducing violence against women and girls.
Jhpiego
Jhpiego – Tanzania
Jhpiego is a global healthcare organization collaborating with Iringa, Njombe, Tabora, Singida, and Morogoro Regional Secretariats to support voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) services as part of the Tanzanian national strategy for HIV prevention under the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children (MOHCDGEC). Activities are carried out by the Strengthening High Impact Interventions for an AIDS-free Generation (AIDSFree) Project with the support of USAID through PEPFAR.
Grassroot Soccer is collaborating with Jhpiego around the design, delivery, and evaluation of the school-based component of the Adolescent Friendly Male Circumcision Initiative within the AIDSFree Tanzania VMMC Project. The innovative, mixed-sex approach called āTimu ya Ushindiā (or āWinning Teamā in kiSwahili) is aimed at increasing uptake of VMMC, HPV vaccination, and cervical cancer screening.
Tchova Tchova Communications Programs
Tchova Tchova Communications Programs – Mozambique
Tchova Tchova Communications Programs (TTPC), is a non-profit organization comprised of health communication and Social and Behavior Change (SBC) professionals who have been working for more than ten years with the Center for Communication Programs at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHU CCP). With the support of ExxonMobil, TTPC and GRS are rolling out adolescent-friendly malaria and HIV prevention, care, and treatment programming.
2018 GRS Training of Master Trainers for The Grassoot Project.- Photo Credit Amanda Damelio (Instagram @ADameliophotography)
The Grassroot Project – USA
Founded by former GRS intern Tyler Spencer, The Grassroot Project (TGP) utilizes NCAA Varsity Athletes as role models to build trusting relationships with teens across Washington, DC, USA in order to openly discuss sensitive health issues. TGP and GRS teamed up in June for an exciting 3-day Training of Master Trainers in Soweto where TGPās American Coaches and GRS Master Trainers exchanged best practices for working with youth.
CorpsAfrica
CorpsAfrica – Malawi
CorpsAfrica recruits African men and women to move to high-poverty communities within their own countries for one year to inspire a strong pan-African community and network of public service, and to build the capacity of rural villages to create self-sufficiency. In collaboration with Grassroot Soccer and the United States Peace Corps, CorpsAfrica Volunteers and Counterparts are implementing SKILLZ programming at their sites across rural Malawi.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) – Malawi
In Malawi, 4Children is working in partnership with Catholic Health Commission Lilongwe to deliver a comprehensive package of community-based services, including HIV prevention and youth empowerment approaches. An important part of this approach is the SKILLZ sport-based youth programming, which was adapted for Catholic Relief Servicesā USAID-funded 4Children project.