TackleAfrica’s first blog is written by Yianny Ioannou, recently appointed as Coaching Development Manager. Read and comment on what he thinks of the HIV epidemic as a professional football coach with experience working with some of Africa’s most affected communities.
First and foremost I’d like to welcome people to our website which is undergoing some exciting new changes, and also to our blogs. Our staff, friends and supporters will regularly be posting blogs on the site which will include stories of the work we are doing in Africa, courses we are running and comment on football and HIV issues.
HIV is quickly being identified as one of the most destructive factors that is facing Africa with in excess of 22 million people living with the infection. It is tearing at the fabric of society by breaking up families, killing huge numbers of the key workforce and bringing a stigma and shame which transcends all barriers. HIV is an indiscriminate killer with no regard for age, race, social status or geography and has been identified in almost every country in the world. 
Our Goal is to use football to reach young people in Africa to increase their understanding of HIV and enable them to live safe and healthy lives.
By using the power and the draw of football we can reach those younger generations who are the most likely and the most vulnerable to contracting HIV. Since 2003 we have been working with expert local partners on projects in 16 countries and it is my job to push forward all that great work and put it in the hands of local coaches who can roll out football drills with an HIV message in any region and in any country.
Sometimes looking down the road of what needs to be done leaves me daunted by the magnitude of what we are facing. In 2002 Nelson Mandela stated “This is a War” referring to the fight against HIV, but this is a battle that will be won with education not with guns, with footballs not with bombs. I would also suggest that this is a war in which every single person can participate and play their part. TackleAfrica has a great group of people driving us forward and we always welcome input, ideas and support from new members so make sure you look at the How You Can Help page!
In coming blogs I will look to keep you up to date with how our work is progressing and give you a taste of life on our courses running in Africa so as I sign off I’ll leave you with this:
Optimistic estimates state that a cure for HIV is more than 10 years away which by no means implies we should stop working but what can we do in the meantime? We need to educate and support those at greatest risk which we will continue to do through our football programmes with the support of our local partners.
TackleAfrica
One Game Saves Lives
Yianny 25/10/2010
Look out for more blogs from TackleAfrica’s staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and partners
Great stuff, look forward to hearing more…
rely wonderful. i never forget what Tackle Africa (20 volunteers, 2 women and 18 men ) did their best at Ethiopia in 2004. Ben and his team. hopefully we will do the same and keep our partnership. with all my love
thanks for the positive role you are playing to e,power the youth through talent of sports and education on HIV, this is very important and may you keep up with the good work.
In Portugal, we’ ve been running a project on AIDS prevention with young male athlets since 2008. We’ve been working with 30 different teams (11-20 years-old) and about 30 coaches. All we do is to “coach” coachers into teaching basic social and emotional skills to the athlets, while increasing their understanding of HIV/AIDS, all done during regular coaching sessions. I’d like to hear from similar projects, especially in Europe (for the sole reason that we have no funds to travel to Africa…).
All the best,
Manuela Fonseca.
hi coach yianny, what your doing is very good is a new thing to some one like me, just keep on.
Well done Yianny Tackle Africa is doing a tremendous work here in Uganda.
Indeed, Using sport as a communication tool is in the right direction, since World wide sports is known to be a crows puller, knows no political, social racial or even economic divides.
Please, continues your campaign in that, the current youth are an HIV/AIDS threatened generation, we need to increase and improve their access to education, sports and recreational activities.
Please, keep it up. More grease to your elbow.