"Even though football has been a huge part of my life, it then really hit me that it was possible that it could mean so much more to someone else. I finally witnessed the full impact of the sport beyond the competitive profession that we witness every weekend in the premier league or MLS; playing football with us for maybe an hour or two allows many of the children to escape their normal lives and be natural, carefree and happy allowing them to temporarily forget about a stressful and often abusive home life that they call reality. It also became fully apparent to me the power of the football as a teaching tool; as soon as you remove it from your bag, you have the undivided attention of every child in a two hundred meter radius. It is this influential power that the Coaches Across Continents program utilizes to successfully communicate important life messages to young people in developing communities."
- Richard Smith with CaC in Uganda
Coaches Across Continents Profile:
Background:
Over the past 3 years, the Harvard Soccer Program has built a strong relationship with Coaches across Continents, an organization founded and led by our own Nick Gates ’91. CaC’s unique agenda uses soccer as a means to teach children important life, health, and leadership skills. More specifically, they address important Health and Wellness issues such as HIV/AIDS and female empowerment. To accomplish this, the organization installs 3-year programs, known as Hat-Trick Initiatives, in impoverished communities around the world.
How does the Hat-Trick Initiative work?
Year 1:
CaC sends trained coaches to communities to work with local teachers, coaches, and children.
Year 2:
CaC sends more trained coaches back to the same site to oversee and assist with the progress of the curriculum. Also, it funds local community coaches to train in the UK or US to gain valuable experience.
Year 3:
CaC provides soccer and educational equipment to ensure the prolonged sustainability of the program.
Awards:
- 2009: The Hat-Trick Initiative is proclaimed as the Best New Project in the world for sport and development at the Beyond Sport annual awards ceremony, which was attended by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and South African activist Desmond Tutu.
- 2009: SCORE4Africa Football for Diversity Award Finalist.
- 2010: Global Sports Forum Football for Education Featured Finalist in Barcelona.
Growth:
CaC is one of the fastest growing non-profits in the world. In 2009, its curriculum was implemented at sites in Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania. In 2010, it operates in 16 sites across 8 countries:
| Country |
Number of Sites
|
| Kenya |
4 |
| Uganda |
3 |
| Malawi |
1 |
| South Africa |
2 |
| Tanzania |
1 |
| Zambia |
2 |
| Haiti |
1 |
| USA |
2 |
| |
|
| Total: |
16 |
*Since the founding of CaC in 2008, over 75 countries worldwide have requested its services.
Harvard Soccer and Coaches Across Continents:
Harvard Soccer’s involvement with CaC stretches far beyond the Cambridge dormitories. Recent graduates David Williams ’07, Adam Rousmaniere ‘10 and current players Richard Smith ’13, Sophie Legros ’12, and John Bryant ’13 worked in Africa for an entire summer. After receiving specialized training in the USA and South Africa, they worked to educate local teachers and coaches, so that they can better educate the locate children. In addition, CaC custom designed each curriculum so that it fit the needs of each particular region. After experiencing the success of the program first hand, it became clear that there is a global need for the services that CaC provides.
Our goal is to help CaC reach more communities around the world. In order to do this, we need your help…
HOW TO DONATE:
Goals4Leaders is a fundraising campaign that supports Coaches Across Continents. We hope to raise money every time the Harvard Men's or Women's soccer teams scores a goal in the upcoming 2010 Fall Season.
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure.
First, pick the team you want to sponsor:
1) Men's Team or
2) Women's Team
There are two ways to donate to the Goals4Leaders program:
1) Sponsor each Goal and 2) Donate a fixed amount
1) To SPONSOR EACH GOAL…
For any amount equal or more than $1 per goal please fill out the donation area as per the example:
Display Name: David Beckham
Date: April 23rd
Amount: $10
Comment: I would like to sponsor $10 a goal to MEN'S TEAM
If the men's team scores 20 goals, your donation is $10X20 = $200
***At the end of the season, please come back to the page and donate your total amount based upon the number of goals that are scored.***
If you would like to SPONSOR EACH GOAL for an amount less than $1 per goal, please fill out the donation area as per the example:
Display Name: Ronaldo
Date: April 23rd
Amount: $1
Comment: I would like to sponsor $0.75 (seventy five cents) per goal TO WOMEN'S TEAM
(The minimum amount that can be filled in the Amount Box is $1 but at the end of the season you will donate $0.75 X number of goals).
***At the end of the season, please come back to the page and donate your total amount based upon the number of goals that are scored.***
2) To DONATE A FIXED AMOUNT...
Simply fill in the dollar figure in the AMOUNT section and in the comment section write FIXED amount TO MEN'S or WOMEN'S TEAM.
The Coaches across Continents Donation Guarantee:
In 2010, every dollar donated to Coaches across Continents goes to fund our coaches traveling and working in developing communities.
**PRIZE:**
How many combined goals will the Harvard Men's and Women's teams score this fall?
Take a guess in the "comment" section of your donation. The winner will receive a signed Harvard Soccer shirt by every team member!
(Example: Men's Team will score 50 goals, women's team will score 50 goals.
Guess: 100)
You can find more information about Coaches across Continents at: www.coachesacrosscontinents.com
Do you want to hear more stories? Visit
sportingcommunities.edwardswan.com/