Kicking Aids Out Network

International network

www.kickingaidsout.net/

In July 2003, UK Sport in partnership with CGC and NIF and with the co-operation of Right to Play have become the founding members of the International Kicking AIDS Out! Network. Kicking AIDS Out! is an international network of organisations working together using sport and physical activity to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and motivate behavioural change.

Being a member of this network presents opportunities for the UK to support projects at grassroots level in a number of African countries that use sport to tackle the growing problem of HIV/AIDS as well as opportunities to support the development of an international network looking to share best practice and knowledge in the use of sport as a development tool.

African initiative

Kicking AIDS Out! is an African initiative, brought about by people directly affected by the disease. African sport organisations are mobilising their communities and, in partnership with organisations in the north, developing innovative new approaches to address HIV/AIDS and some of the related social issues. The network shares information and best practice, promotes policy development and supports local projects. It provides a forum for exchange between different organisations from different countries and continents - as equal partners - with different contributions. Southern partners include, EduSport Foundation, Zambia, Education, Sport and Physical Activity Promotion Programme (EMIMA), Tanzania, Mathare Youth Sport Association (MYSA), Kenya, National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ), Zambia, Physically Active Youth (PAY), Namibia, Sport and Recreation Commission of Zimbabwe (SRCZ), Zimbabwe, Sport in Action (SIA), Zambia and Sports Coaches' OutReach (SCORE), South Africa.

VSO

UK Sport has had a long relationship with VSO, and has been involved in funding the development of VSO's sports programme. UK Sport recognises the impact VSO volunteers have at a community level in effecting change as well as their cost effectiveness.

Volunteers have worked in a number of sport related areas in the past including: policy development, facilities management, coaching, community sports development, and curriculum development.

VSO and UK Sport have been involved in major projects such as the Cameroon Community Sports Programme and the UK-South Africa Sports Initiative. UK Sport is currently supporting a four year project to improve the social development capacity for out-of-school youth using the medium of sport in Malawi. This is part of VSO's 'Youth in Action' project in Malawi that delivers HIV/AIDS awareness messages to both in-school and out-of-school youth using the medium of sport.

This project supports three youth development advisors and three sports development advisors to work in partnership within the Northern, Central and Southern districts of Malawi to deliver a coherent, comprehensive and systematic youth development programme through youth clubs and schools using sport as a vehicle for behavioural change, motivation and increasing awareness and education on HIV/AIDS. The programme also helps reduce stigma attached to the disease and allows for both girls and boys to work together, which makes communicating sexual health messages easier.

The sports development advisors are focusing on building capacity and training of sports activities, this will contribute to the beginnings of a sports structure across Malawi. Within the first year of the project, there has been training workshops for 126 out-of-school youth workers and primary teachers as well as 48 secondary teachers. This has resulted coaching for male and female athletics, basketball, football, volleyball, netball and table tennis coaching as well as the setting up of 10 new club teams including single sex and mixed teams. The development advisors are working closely with the Minster for Youth, Sports & Culture and working towards re-introducing a sports curriculum within the education sector all levels up to University.

Regular youth leaderships and skills development training courses including administration, coaching and organisation have been conducted to ensure the sustainability of the project. This has already resulted in the organisation of regular youth sports days which are linked with HIV/AIDS & life skills training workshops as well as education on gender and human rights issues. A regional mini-Olympics is also currently being planned.

Activities

  • Kicking AIDS Out! Activities include:
  • Clinics and workshops
  • Peer coaching / education
  • Movement games and traditional games
  • Formation of groups, clubs and leagues
  • Leadership development and capacity building activities (e.g. training trainers, sports leader courses, etc.)

Central to success and sustainability is capacity building. Kicking AIDS Out! develops programmes and resources to train coaches, trainers and leaders, building capacity at the individual, organisational and community level.

UK Sport provides ongoing financial support and strategic advice for the International Kicking AIDS Out! Network. These resources have a strategic input into the development and work of the network.

Pieter van der Houwen