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.

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