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>View discussions about this entry Country: Micronesia, Federated States of
Organization: Society for Historic Investigation & Preservation (SHIP) / Helping Ourselves: Outreach Programs in Sports (HOOPS)
Sport: Soccer
Year the initative began (yyyy) 2000
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? Micronesian children's participation in a well-designed professionally operated school soccer program will build self-esteem, offer mentoring, in healthy safe environments and encourage staying in school; where currently state statistics show that for every 100 children that start first grade, only 15 graduate from high school.
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? Unlike most other places worldwide, soccer is a relatively unknown new sport in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Soccer is a sport for the poor and financially disadvantaged, our situation in the FSM. (Our currency is the US dollars with the cost for food much higher than in the United States, but starting wages can be .50 to .60 cents/hour).
We’ll use this grant to organize grassroots school programs throughout the FSM, from the largest volcanic islands to the smallest coral atolls that lie hundreds of miles from the nearest airport, hospital, secondary school or telephone. We will build a program that will allow the children of the FSM to become aware of soccer and participate in it. Our program will only be run in “SAFE” places that are substance and violence free. We will organize and create a national soccer federation. With an organized program, run by the national federation supported by FIFA we will have healthy youth participating in an FSM sport program that is sustainable – something no other sport in the FSM can claim to be. Through experiencing soccer, youth will gain self-esteem and since the program is run at elementary schools, it will encourage them to remain in school, thereby reducing drop-outs (currently 85% by grade 12) and the daily truancy rate. Getting an education will help them achieve seif-esteem, a sense of personal worth, and tools for success in life. What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change? Soccer is not well known and not commonly played by FSM youth. There are no coaches to help develop a youth soccer program or train local teachers and youth workers in coaching youth soccer. There is a lack of awareness regarding the importance of getting a good education and local authorities do not enforce truancy laws. Therefore kids do not have a serious commitment to go to school.
Our program will offer a youth soccer program in as many elementary schools as possible, starting in the nearest islands and expanding to the remote atolls. We will use soccer in schools to educate children and their parents about the importance of going to school, playing soccer, and leading a healthy lifestyle. Currently the FSM is the second most obese nation in the world. We will use soccer to provide meaningful, safe and enjoyable healthy activities for youth. Emphasizing FIFA's "Fair Play" program. Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? Once a knowledgeable coach is available the program can proceed effectively. The coach will train youth workers, teachers and interested individuals in running a kids soccer program. The soccer program will focus on a youth ages 6-14.
While the following activities are going on, the coach and stakeholders will work to fulfill the requirements to be admitted to FIFA. “SAFE” will take the following steps to assure proper implementation: How do you plan to grow your innovation? "...adding one school and island at a time"
After four months, the coach and HOOPS’ staff and SAFE partners will review the program, refining the existing youth training workbook for teachers, modify as required, and begin extending SAFE to the more remote islands. Trainees will learn how to operate a successful fun youth soccer program, emphasizing substance and violence free environments, promoting healthy lifestyles. The youth soccer program will be implemented in the elementary schools, thereby increasing youths’ interest in staying in school. A youth soccer league will be started offering schools the opportunity to compete in a friendly well-run competition. A media program will be implemented: newspaper articles, radio/television announcements, interviews, multi-media presentations designed to reach all island communities. A summer workshop will be offered. Popular soccer films will also be shown to help garner interest in the local communities. Other workshops will promote substance & violence awareness, “Staying in School”, setting goals, obesity (FSM is the second most obese nation in the world), exercise & proper diet. Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. Youth will have fun playing soccer, gain self-esteem, be mentored, encouraged to stay in school, live healthy positive lifestyles, increasing their likelihood of success.
What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries? “We Deliver!”
All children need consistency in their lives, something they can count on: no excuses. Our program delivers consistency. Unless the weather forces cancellation, we play soccer! Shortly after starting our elementary school program we observed that some students, who didn’t have class or were told to go home because school was dismissed early or even if school was cancelled, hung around waiting to play soccer. Our youth workers have kids from other schools stop them on the street and ask, “Inet sipwe soccer?” (When will we play soccer?). They want the experience, they want to live meaningful lives, and they know “we deliver”! The beneficiaries are the children of Chuuk and the FSM who will find out that kicking a ball, sweating, running, passing and scoring a goal is a way to grow, be someone, recognized, respected… a way to climb up, start thinking about yourself as some who “can do something”, that school can offer wonderful opportunities and that “I can succeed.”
Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation? We have received the full support of the Director of Elementary Schools, Chuuk State. Other schools have approached our NGO about starting our program at their island schools. This should begin soon.
There are only four states in the FSM: another state is interested in implementing our program. The Guam Football Association and the Northern Marianas Football Association have already expressed an interest in our efforts and offered assistance to us. We are starting the process of becoming a member of FIFA. What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact? • No history of soccer in the FSM.
• A lack of soccer knowledge and expertise. • Not FSM citizen certified as a coach. • No certified coach available in the FSM • Tried unsuccessfully to recruit a volunteer coach. • Insufficient financial resources. • Geographical realities: many islands spread over a vast ocean. • Youth exiting early from school. • Lack of “safe” environments for youth • Transportation and Communication difficulties. How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? Our current program is financed through existing grants, financial support from individual donors and civic-minded private businesses and, most important, in-kind and volunteer work.
Once the program has an experienced coach and the FSM Football Association (FSMFA) is properly organized and functioning, the newly created national soccer federation will seek membership in FIFA. FIFA membership will provide the FSM with annual financial support and grants (GOAL Grant, etc.). FIFA membership will provide financing. With FIFA membership will come additional recognition of our program, which will encourage more individuals and organizations to provide financial support our program. In fact, several private businesses and foundations have assured us that with FIFA membership will come larger donations and more donors. If known, provide information on your finances and organization. FINANCIAL
FY-2008 Grant Funding: $29,057. Private Donor A: 500. Private Donor B: 200. Small Donors: 225. FY-08 TOTAL: 29,982. (plus) In-Kind Donations time, transportation, services, mentoring, materials & supplies STAFF What is the potential demand for your innovation? All the islands have schools and all will want to participate in SAFE.
As soccer becomes better known, played by more youth, the demand will grow. Micronesians love sports. Soccer is ideally suited for their body-type and they can be successful in this sport. Soccer - operated through the schools, combined with our on going mentoring and lifestyle activities - will provide youth with the understanding that healthy safe venues are required and they will want to stay in school. This means success! What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? Not becoming a member of FIFA. Should the FSM fail to become a member of FIFA, then sustaining soccer will be challenging.
Currently there is no consistent funding available for sports in most of the states and islands. What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. In 2000 HOOPS was asked to field a Chuuk State soccer team for the FSM Games. With the help of an American volunteer teacher/soccer player, HOOPS recruited Chuukese youth to learn soccer and compete in the 2001 FSM Games. We provided equipment, organized parents, helped fund raise.
With virtually no game experience, but a lot of hard work, Team Chuuk captured the silver medal, in a close and exciting 1-0 game. At the FSM Games we met internationally known Israeli soccer coach Shimon Shenhar, who told us that it was the ideal sports for Micronesian youth. Although difficult, we did the best we could. Attempts to get a coach from various organizations proved unsuccessful, things appeared to be slowing. Finally HOOPS, decided to focus on sports that would offer Micronesians the greatest opportunity to achieve success. Remembering the words of Shimon Shenhar, soccer was selected as the team sport, wrestling for individuals. Although we continue to work in many team sports, our emphasis is now on soccer. Our program spends time in several elementary schools. The kids love it. Better yet, girls can play soccer without the cultural prohibitions associated with other sports: the number of girls wanting to play amazed us. Wonderful & healthy! We now have a high school league and championship. Its right and its SAFE! Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. Keitani Graham (Youth Director)
College of the Holy Cross: BA Liberal Arts SPORTS HISTORY CHUUK STATE: FSM NATIONAL TEAM WORK HISTORY Chuuk High School (CHS): Athletic Director & Wrestling & Track/Field Coach Contact Information:
Keitani Graham
Youth Director Society for Historic Investigation & Preservation (SHIP) / Helping Ourselves: Outreach Programs in Sports (HOOPS) (FSM non-profit corporation & NGO) grahaminchuuk@yahoo.com SHIP/HOOPS P.O. Box 1072 Chuuk, FM 96942 Micronesia, Federated States of Tel: (691) 330-4096 Fax: (691) 330-2777 Website: currently under development Discussions about this entry |
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Hi Keitani,
I am most certain that the kids will fall in love with soccer once you introduce it! You mention that the concern is that there is a lack of soccer coaches, I strongly believe that if you are able to teach the first freshman class of soccer players that you can turn them into coaches. Also, if you incentive that the students that make it to secondary school be coaches, I think the love of the sport may help keep them in school a bit longer. This will not only help your program out but also empower the students by giving them solid leadership skills. Also, there is an organization based in Mozambique that has developed a training manual for coaches on how to incorporate positive life messages in the coaching. I think this should help you immensely, take a look at their entry here: http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/2483 and get in contact with them.
Keep up the great work!
Best,
Tyler Ahn