Become an LdB FC friendship association
Of the 40 million people in the world suffering from HIV and AIDS, more than a quarter are between 15 and 24 years of age. Half of all new infections are in the 15-24 age group; a figure that is expected to double by 2010. As youth are playing an ever-increasing role in the spread of HIV and AIDS, it is among them we must show our commitment, and because almost half of all the women in KwaZulu Natal carry the virus, it is among the girls that we can make the greatest difference.
The schools in South Africa can communicate with the friendship associations in Sweden and with the LdB FC players.
Using football as a tool, LdB FC has worked to counteract the spread of HIV and AIDS in South Africa since 2008. The north eastern part of the country is one of the world’s most affected regions. Many villages have lost whole generations and a great number of children have no adult role figures.
In this region we reach out to girls with our message through our partner organisation Star for Life. The school uses a “mental vaccination” approach in rural schools and around Durban. This entails working on the mental rather than the physical aspects of HIV and AIDS, and using preventative measures such as attitude and behaviour modification.
Through our collaboration with Star for Life we reach out to almost 20,000 young girls. We use sport as a means of changing attitudes and bolstering self-confidence and self-esteem. As football is generally regarded as a man’s sport, it also raises the status of young girls in the local community. It empowers them because they get to do something that is normally reserved for boys in a culture that does not permit them to question male dominance. We work preventatively through girls to counteract the spread of HIV and AIDS.
Our on-site project manager in South Africa coaches local cluster coaches, who in their turn coach gymnastics teachers in putting across our and Star for Life’s message. She holds regular training sessions and discussions for local cluster coaches and gymnastics teachers to guide them in their work.
She also has great experience as a youth football coach here in Sweden, is a trained physiotherapist and has worked a great deal with disabled children and youth, and with sports injuries.
During training we inform about the disease and discuss various issues with the girls. This gives them knowledge and self-confidence and helps them become aware of their own role in the spread of HIV and AIDS. It also brings a feeling of normality to their lives and gives them time to themselves.
What does being a friendship association entail?
As a friendship association to till LdB FC for you will play a vital role in our struggle against AIDS in KwaZulu Natal.
You elect an LdB FC for Life ambassador in your club and then you will be allocated a friendship school in South Africa where you will liaise with the girls’ football team’s own LdB FC for Life ambassador.
Your partner team also elects an LdB FC for Life ambassador and the ambassadors manage the contact between other members of the team here as well as in Africa.
They can initiate correspondence between the teams and write about the team’s experiences and thoughts both on and off the pitch.
When you have been allocated your friendship school it is up to you to ensure that your friendship school gets access to the material necessary to carry out football training. You collect training kits (whole teams), boots and shin guards etc. Your club badge can remain on the kit, which you send to your friendship school at the end of the year. You will receive more information about this when you are involved in the project.
Our partners are allocated an LdB FC player as sponsor. Your sponsor will visit you a couple of times a year to answer questions and offer tips and advice about playing football. She visits South Africa once a year and while there will mediate contact between you and your friendship school.
How do you become a friendship association?
If you find this interesting then you are more than welcome to contact us at info@ldbfcmarketing.se Tell us about your club’s background and commitment to girl’s football, and why you wish to join.We will set up a venue for girls from all over Sweden. We are particularly interested in associations with large ethnic and religious diversity. We are planning a future tour where all the LdB FC for Life associations can meet and enjoy each other’s company over a common interest; football and human kindness!
