Country: Kenya

Organization: Capital Area Soccer League

Sport: Soccer

Year the initative began (yyyy) 2004

Project URL: http://www.soccerfordevelopment.wordpress.com

What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? We teach people to teach others about the dangers of HIV/AIDS using a soccer themed curriculum

Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? In Kenya, the sport that matters is soccer. Every town has a team. Players are heroes and role models. Simply arriving at a dusty field with soccer balls wins instant friendships. The global soccer community has a unique role in the fight against AIDS. We lead this effort, using the power and popularity of the game to teach AIDS awareness and critical life skills to girls and boys aged 13-18 years. We reach youth at risk, using words they understand spoken by people they respect. Independent evaluation revealed on extraordinary finding. Kenyan kids exposed to our programs retain knowledge and then they go out and teach their own peers.

What are the existing barriers, the biggest problem, your innovation is hoping to address/change? According to WHO, 76% of the people living in the world who are HIV positive live in sub-Saharan Africa.50% of the new infections are in 14-24 age groups. Young people from the age of 14-24 are particularly at risk for engaging in risky behaviors and contracting HIV/AIDS. By using soccer as an educational tool, CASL is employing innovative methods to attract young people and help them learn effective methods and skills for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The concept of using sport as a development tool is quickly emerging and being recognized internationally as an effective means of reaching youth with

Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? CASL has a Project Director and an Assistant Project Director who oversee management and training of all trainers and volunteers and coordinate school visits and events. CASL will engage 15 trainers to deliver the CASL HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum in 6 schools. The curriculum will be delivered primarily as an after-school program six sessions that last 90 minutes each. Upon completion of the CASL intervention students will graduate from the program and expected to help others in the community, thus spreading the information that they have learned in the course. The program contains a curriculum which is a series of activities that allow youth to explore issues relating to HIV/AIDS and gain the skills necessary to lead healthy lives. These skills include critical thinking, communication, self-esteem, and decision making, among others. The curriculum requires active participation and creates a safe ‘team-based’ environment in which participants can comfortably share their feelings, beliefs, and ideas about HIV/AIDS. Students who graduate out of this course, they become HIV experts and ambassadors to

How do you plan to grow your innovation? CASL will scale up its current projects by graduating 5,000 students over the next 12 months from its HIV/AIDS prevention program. These students will complete the entire curriculum and will be empowered to conduct peer education activities within their community, reaching thousands more through formal and informal educational sessions. The network for peer education already exists and the capacity building will be set up once the funds are available. CASL will also improve its delivery of the curriculum, purchase necessary teaching supplies, improve its monitoring and evaluation process and provide basic stipends for its training staff. The activities contained in the curriculum delivery are all soccer based which are entirely fun and creates team based environment.

Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. Since the launch of the curriculum training for our HIV/AIDS intervention program, CASL has delivered this interactive curriculum to 2,300 students in 3 schools.

What impact has your innovation had to date/or what is your intended impact? Exactly who are the beneficiaries? Since the inception of this curriculum, CASL has so far delivered its program to 2,300 students in 3 primary schools ages 8 – 13, both girls and boys affected and infected. CASL intends to graduate 5,000 students over the next 12 months through the same curriculum. The children are the main beneficiaries, but the community as a whole also benefits as children are taught sex education and how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS transmission.

Please list any other measures reflective of the impact of your innovation? The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has been reducing down within the targeted areas and individuals. The rate so far has slowed down to 60% from 85%.

What are the main barriers to creating or achieving your impact? CASL has received scant resources to implement its programs and has relied on the generosity of local community members and team members’ families. CASL hopes that with adequate funding, it will scale up its projects efficiently and effectively.

How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? CASL will write proposals to various corporations and foundations that focus on HIV/AIDS as their corporate social responsibility interest.
CASL is currently making an online fundraising,www.globalgiving.com/1885.Additio
Nally, it has already secured funding from FIFA through streetfootballworld under the FOOTBALL FOR HOPE initiative.

If known, provide information on your finances and organization. This field has not been completed

What is the potential demand for your innovation? Due to initial success of these projects and subsequent increased demand from schools for this innovative HIV prevention methodology, the community in which CASL operates demands has been of great demand of our programs in order to make a fight against HIV/AIDS.

What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? Due to the initial success of these projects and subsequent increased demand from schools for this innovative HIV prevention methodology, CASL has been receiving scant resources and particularly depending on its members’ contribution to sustain the project.CASL hopes that with full funding from corporations or foundations, it would strengthen and expand its mission hence reaching out to many youth.

Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material. The origin of this innovation is to allow the youth to play and learn the game of soccer at the grassroots level and at the same time develop social changes about life skills. Ndeche Enouce is the Project Director for Capital Area Soccer League (CASL).He also serves as the Executive Director for Best Buddies Kenya. Ndeche has served a soccer coach for many 5 years handling junior teams and senior teams and worked as a sports administrator for 6 years.