ASDHI

Following the 2009 projects in the Ssi District of Uganda, near Lake Victoria, TackleAfrica coaches Tom Colborne and Hugh Thompson delivered a 4 day course in using the World Cup edition of the TackleAfrica HIV education through football coaching to 12 local coaches, teachers and youth leaders in May 2010. 

ASDHI (African Social Development and Health Initiatives) serves some of the most vulnerable communities in Africa, with HIV prevalence rates in isolated high-poverty fishing villages estimated at up to 30%.  TackleAfrica and ASDHI – run by KCCC director Peter Byansi – are two of the only NGOs working regularly with these communities, and the appeal of football has proved a incredibly effective technique for engaging many local people, who travelled for miles to attend the course and subsequent gala event. 

Most communities around Lake Victoria have no electricity or running water, and education is a luxury rather than an assumed right as the every day struggles of subsistence existence take priority.  Young women regularly miss one week’s schooling each month simply due to a lack of sanitary towels, and access to HIV information, testing, care and treatment are severely limited.  With TackleAfrica’s support, ASDHI provides HIV education through football across several districts in schools and football clubs, as well as testing and counselling facilities at TackleAfrica-funded tournaments and anti retro-viral treatment.

Following the course, 5 teams played over 2 days in the ASDHI TackleAfrica gala.  126 players and spectators tested for HIV at the event, including TackleAfrica coach Tom Colborne.

Kamwokya, May 2010

TackleAfrica are now into the 3rd year of their programme with Kamwokya Christian Caring Community in Kampala and in May 2010, coaches Tom Colborne and Hugh Thompson delivered the first project in Africa using the new World Cup edition of the TackleAfrica coaching manual.

25 coaches from organisations across were trained in a week-long workshop based at the KCCC Treasure Life Centre with the support of local volunteers Moses Kibirango and Matuvo Eric Paul and the Technical Director of the Ugandan Football Association, Usmani Lebowah.

The coaches, many of whom have been delivering TackleAfrica HIV education through football coaching sessions for up to three years already, were given additional training in coaching methodology, session planning and designing TackleAfrica drills as well as in the issues relating to the new HIV sections of the manual, Living with HIV and Relationships.

Coaches trained: 25
Number of young people benefitting regularly from training: 1250

The KCCC Allstars World Cup sponsored by TackleAfrica

37 teams played in the TackleAfrica World Cup, organised by KCCC to raise awareness of TackleAfrica HIV programmes. Teams took part over two days in 4 different categories – U17s, Academies, Women and Organisations – at Ketante Primary School, with over 600 players involved. TackleAfrica coaches ran drills before the semi finals and finals as well as helping out with refereeing, formalities and the all important trophy presentation.

TackleAfrica from Nutmeg on Vimeo.

In 2006, TackleAfrica trustee Charlie Gamble spent several months volunteering with Ugandan partner NGO Kamwokya Christian Caring Community (KCCC) as a football coach with the Allstars Academy, run by Moses Kiribango and Robert Mulerwa.  Read the full story

Five volunteer football coaches from across the UK spent the month of January delivering HIV/AIDS awareness messages through football coaching to the players at the All Stars Academy in Kamwokya. Read the full story

Between September 2003 and April 2004, TackleAfrica carried out its first ever project – which was organised in partnership with Christian Aid and Concern. Read the full story