CALENDAR: Recent and Future Events
Date
Location
Event
May 8, 2011
Scotland
Bob Stewart successfully abseiled off the Forth Rail Bridge to raise funds for Friends of PLAY SOCCER Malawi
Fall 2011
Worldwide
The 2010 Global Peace Games take place around the world
Nov. 30, 2011
Santa Monica
Fundraising event with Santa Monica Orthopedic Group and Sports Foundation
PARTNERSHIPS AND OTHER NEWS:
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HOLIDAY FUNDRAISING EVENT: On November 30, 2011, PLAY SOCCER Non Profit International (PSNI) joins with Santa Monica Orthopedic Group and Sports Foundation to present a fundraising event benefitting their partnership program for development through sport. The event, at Viceroy Santa Monica, features an appearance by soccer legend Cobi Jones. Click here for an invitation and more details.
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ORANJE IN BRUSSEL CHARITY EVENT: On September 21, 2011, Oranje in Brussel (OiB) sponsored their annual charity football tournament at Parc Leopold in Brussels. The event featured matches between amateur teams, made up of employees of European Union Institution. The 2011 tournament benefits PLAY SOCCER Non Profit International (PSNI).
READ MORE in the FIFA news item, and click here for pictures from the event.
- CELEBRATE PEACE THROUGH SPORT: Many nations are joining the PLAY SOCCER Network to celebrate the United
Nations International Day of Peace with the 2011 Global Peace Games for Children and Youth.
The Games, held annually in the fall, on or around the UN International Day of Peace,
gather children and youth in grassroots communities around the world to show their
solidarity and support for peaceful solutions and the drive to achieve the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals.
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MALAWI TROPHY: Patrick Kulemeka, PLAY SOCCER Malawi Program Director, was awarded the International Olympic Committee 2011 trophy for Sport and Social Responsibility on June 25 at Thyolo Stadium on the Olympic Day celebration. Patrick's name was nominated by the Malawi Olympic committee because of his commitment to promote the IOC objectives, and his outstanding contribution to development through sport through his work with children and youth.
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THE FIFA/OGUAA FOOTBALL FOR HOPE CENTER: The Center in Cape Coast, Ghana, has progressed from hope to reality, construction has begun, and the Center is expected to open in early fall. In May, the Center organized a Football For Hope Girls' Gala competition, and also a Deaf Children's Gala.
READ MORE about the Girls' Gala in Newsletter #15
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NEW SITE IN THE USA: PSNI has opened its first USA program in Appalachia, collaborating with an Ohio University Program, KIDS ON CAMPUS. Under the auspices of the US Department of State grant for educational and cultural exchange, 45 volunteer youth instructors from PLAY SOCCER Ghana, Senegal, and South Africa traveled in June to Ohio University for a two week stay on campus. The instructors will train for and take the US National Youth Coaching license, work with underserved children in the KIDS ON CAMPUS program, and carry out core program sessions for the young children participating in the new PLAY SOCCER Appalachia program.
PSNI and Ohio University will post photos and reports on their websites after the visit concludes on June 28th. Click here to see a YouTube video of the instructors arriving from Africa!
AWARDS:
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PLAY SOCCER AWARDED TROPHY AT GLOBAL SPORTS FORUM BARCELONA: On March 9, 2010, PLAY SOCCER Non Profit International (PSNI) was awarded the 2010 Trophy for "Sport and Education" at the second Global Sports Forum in Barcelona. The Trophy for Sport and Education honored PLAY SOCCER's 10-year old "Play for Fun, Learn for Life" program as "the sports initiative that has best promoted the values of citizenship education, training and vocational integration through sport."
READ MORE: Press Release
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PLAY SOCCER AWARDED "SPORTS NGO FOR PEACE OF THE YEAR": PLAY SOCCER Non Profit International was awarded the prestigious "Sports NGO for Peace of the Year" at the 3rd Annual Peace and Sport International Forum in Monaco, in the presence of H.S.H Prince Albert II and more than 400 decision-makers from 85 nations, representing sport, politics, business and civil society
READ MORE: Press Release
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PLAY SOCCER SHORTLISTED FOR 2009 UNICEF CHILDREN’S
RIGHTS AWARD: The PLAY SOCCER Network was one of four finalists
for the 2009 UNICEF Children’s Rights Award. The award was
granted by Beyond Sport, a new global initiative to unite and promote
the world’s most innovative projects for change. PLAY SOCCER
benefited from participation at the July 7-9 Beyond Sport Summit in
London, an opportunity to network with media, corporations,
organizations, and individuals who support our achievements.
MORE at www.beyondsport.org
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US DEPARTMENT OF STATE AWARDS GRANT TO OHIO UNIVERSITY & PLAY SOCCER
PARTNERSHIP: The US Department of State has awarded a three-year grant of $225,000 to support
a partnership between Ohio University and PLAY SOCCER that furthers cultural interaction and
education through sport in underserved areas in the US, Senegal, Ghana and South Africa. The grant,
issued by the Sports United Office, will fund a holistic training program for youth sport coaches that
teaches the crucial link between sport and health. The PLAY SOCCER- Ohio University partnership
kicks off in December at PLAY SOCCER South Africa, where a Ohio U’s expert coaches will deliver
clinics, training and field sessions. PLAY SOCCER’s country programs in Ghana and Senegal will
benefit from visits in 2010 and 2011. In exchange, during summer 2010 and 2011, PLAY SOCCER
youth coaches from South Africa, Ghana, and Senegal will travel to the US to participate in Ohio
University’s “Kids On Campus,” an enrichment program for children in the surrounding Appalachian
communities.
READ MORE: Press Release
