Grass Roots Soccer HIV Prevention
We’ve begun a most fortunate partnership with GRS that will influence the choices the youth of Richmond make for years to come. Currently we have trainers training other trainers in order to get the program up, running and sustainable. The GRS program takes a unique approach to reinforcing youth’s ability to make good choices about themselves that in turn impact their neighborhood and community. Alcohol, drugs, promiscuity and school are all addressed as decisions that relate to the choices youth make in a popular sport that provide hands on connections to assist youth in making positive choices.
The future direction for GRS and Hope in Richmond includes funding lead workers as well as expanding the program throughout South Africa with other Rotary Clubs and exploring a partnership with the Peace Corps that would provide volunteers to give support to the established project and assist with implementing the efforts in other neighboring villages.
Community Center (includes Soup Kitchen, Library and offices for Health/HIV, Soup Kitchen & Grass Root Soccer
Early on we discovered the importance of establishing community pride and a sense of community. We were fortunate that an existing structure could be renovated and enhanced to house a community center for the people of Richmond. We began with simple renovations and have begun to implement the vision of housing a number of service providing offices in the building. Grass Root Soccer’s offices are already located here and are still in need of many supplies and support that will allow the program to succeed. The Soup Kitchen is in need of a space for the supervisor to coordinate meals, shipments and scheduling. The plan is… Lastly as our medical team works to train HIV workers and other individuals necessary for better healthcare delivery, an office is needed. The Community Center provides such a space, while housing the actual soup kitchen where 135 children receive a hot meal everyday.
In order for our administrative components to the successful programs to happen, office and meeting space is needed for each of the groups. We are continue to maintain the offices for the Health/HIV workers, Grass Root Soccer and the Soup Kitchen. In 2009, our efforts will focus on the development of the Library. We will be buying books, computers, shelves, tables, chairs and other items to establish a usable, welcoming facility for the youth in Richmond. Our goal is to partner with the South African Library Association as well as local partners in order to facilitate a successful end product.
Sabelo Project
One initiative to addressing the employment challenge in Richmond is this sewing project. Placemats, potholders, and napkins as well as other items are being sewn by hand by women from Richmond. These women are no only learning valuable sewing skills, but also about pricing, budgeting and fundamental business practices. The goal of course is to establish a revenue stream for these families by selling their finished products within the Richmond region as well as a small amount outside of the area. These items are currently available in small quantities from our website, by clicking here.
Grass Root Expansion Along N-9
The larger, long-term vision for 2009 is to expand our Hope in Richmond South Africa model to three other towns along the main thoroughfare in this part of Africa. We are looking to partner with local Rotary’s interested in the type of projects we have undertaken and want to assist with their replication in adjacent communities to further the impact.
