we've been busy at work the past few weeks. we're having multiple graduations for the kids who just finished going through our grassroot soccer skillz curriculum. we've had events the past 2 saturdays, and we have them the next 3. keeping busy.
the graduations are a lot of fun. we invite all the kids who graduated and their families. it's always good when we can get the parents to come because then they can better understand what grassroot soccer is about and see some of the activities we do with their kids during the interventions. the graduations are held at the various schools around town where the kids attend.
a typical graduation consists of the coaches doing some of the activities with all the kids, lots and lots of dancing, vct (voluntary counseling and testing), lunch (lots of meat pies), and then the delivery of the certificates.
vct is a new component that we added to the graduations in recent months, and it has proven very successful. it is nice they can test right on site during the graduation and receive their results immediately. if any of the kids or parents test positive, we have a partner organization there we refer them to for counseling and treatment. it is a good system because it immediately gets them started in the treatment process and puts them in contact with someone to keep them accountable. this used to be a problem because people would test positive, but then not know the next step, so they usually did nothing and never received any treatment.
2 weekends ago we graduated 315 kids from the grs skillz curriculum (usually aged between 12-18), and around 230 of them tested, which is a pretty high percentage. there are some difficulties with testing the children because they have to receive consent from their parents or guardian. so, if the parents come it isn't a problem. but most of the parents don't make it to the graduations. in those instances, the parents can sign a consent form allowing the coaches to receive the child's results and pass the results along to the parents. however, many of the parents don't get around to signing the consent forms so the kids aren't allowed to test. it is something we are constantly working to improve upon. at yesterday's graduation we graduated just over 400 kids. i'm not sure of the number tested yet though.
yesterday i got called out and put on the spot to greet all 400 kids in nyanja (the native language that i'm not so great at). i got really nervous, because earlier that day i had been talking to another intern who had tried the same greeting at one of the interventions and all the kids just started laughing at him (because he was a white person trying to speak nyanja and had a weird accent). however, i managed to get through it and the kids responded which is always a plus. small vistory. haha
so there's a little bit more about some of the events and stuff i do with work. let me know if you have any more questions
the graduations are a lot of fun. we invite all the kids who graduated and their families. it's always good when we can get the parents to come because then they can better understand what grassroot soccer is about and see some of the activities we do with their kids during the interventions. the graduations are held at the various schools around town where the kids attend.
a typical graduation consists of the coaches doing some of the activities with all the kids, lots and lots of dancing, vct (voluntary counseling and testing), lunch (lots of meat pies), and then the delivery of the certificates.
vct is a new component that we added to the graduations in recent months, and it has proven very successful. it is nice they can test right on site during the graduation and receive their results immediately. if any of the kids or parents test positive, we have a partner organization there we refer them to for counseling and treatment. it is a good system because it immediately gets them started in the treatment process and puts them in contact with someone to keep them accountable. this used to be a problem because people would test positive, but then not know the next step, so they usually did nothing and never received any treatment.
2 weekends ago we graduated 315 kids from the grs skillz curriculum (usually aged between 12-18), and around 230 of them tested, which is a pretty high percentage. there are some difficulties with testing the children because they have to receive consent from their parents or guardian. so, if the parents come it isn't a problem. but most of the parents don't make it to the graduations. in those instances, the parents can sign a consent form allowing the coaches to receive the child's results and pass the results along to the parents. however, many of the parents don't get around to signing the consent forms so the kids aren't allowed to test. it is something we are constantly working to improve upon. at yesterday's graduation we graduated just over 400 kids. i'm not sure of the number tested yet though.
yesterday i got called out and put on the spot to greet all 400 kids in nyanja (the native language that i'm not so great at). i got really nervous, because earlier that day i had been talking to another intern who had tried the same greeting at one of the interventions and all the kids just started laughing at him (because he was a white person trying to speak nyanja and had a weird accent). however, i managed to get through it and the kids responded which is always a plus. small vistory. haha
so there's a little bit more about some of the events and stuff i do with work. let me know if you have any more questions
Very cool Marissa! Haven't read your blog for weeks so just got updated-- seems like you're enjoying it! Some pictures would be nice :) Much love xx
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