A day at the youth league

Many CHRISC football teams take part in the youth league in Arusha. Today there was a new set of matches, and we will have a closer look at Kaloleni zone.

                                                        

19.11.2011

Written by: Åsmund Oksavik Oltedal

Photos: Åsmund Oksavik Oltedal       

Football

Early in the saturday morning there is football training at Kaloleni football field. In the end of the training, several football temas show up, and players start preparing the field by hanging up nets in the goals. A new set of matches in CHRISC league will soon begin. The teams start warming up, and after some time the referee blows the wistle, and the first game has started.

Teams from all over Arusha take part in CHRISC Arusha youth league. There is one league in every CHRISC zone in Arusha: Suye, Kaloleni, Ngaramtoni and Meserani. In Kaloleni there are leagues for teams of age U 14 and U 12. The league is organized by young volunteers.

Captain of Sofa

Good training

Captain of the team Sofa United, Ronaldi likes the youth league. "Playing football is exercise. It builds my body and helps me to find friends", he explains. During CHRISC events he learns about peace and he avoids fighting in the football field. He thinks the referees in the league make the matches fair.

Young leaders

We have talked to two of the volunteers working on the youth league at Kaloleni. Every saturday they show up to organize the league and write game reports.

Idrissa Hassani

Idrissa

Age: 16

Homeplace: Kaloleni

Football Team: CHRISC Arusha

Favourite sport: Football

Idrissa was invited to play in a CHRISC football team in 2008. In 2009 he started to work as volunteer. As volunteer he participated in CHRISC basic referee course in 2010 at CHRISC Training Centre Arusha. This year he completed advanced referee course. "I work as volunteer because CHRISC has given me a mission and helps me improve my life skills. I learn to help other people and myself. People who have drug problems are invited to football teams, and after attending seminars many stop using drugs" he explains. Today he is writing game reports from the youth league. He barely has time for an interview. Besides working on youth league, he is coach, referee and helps organizing bonanzas. He also plans to attend the media group of CHRISC Arusha.

Steven Minja

Age: 16

Steven

Homeplace: Kaloleni

Team: CHRISC Arusha

Favourite sport: Football/Kicking Aids Out

Steven started playing in a CHRISC team in 2008 and started volunteering in 2009. He joined because he likes playing football, and he is interested in sport leadership. "CHRISC can save lives by using sports and workshops" he says. Except working on the youth league, Steven is referee and peer educator. He teaches at seminars about tournament and league management. He has also participated in Eeast Africa Cup four times. The first three times as player, and this year as team manager. Steven tells us about his dreams for the future: "I want to develop myself and others. I want to work at the national office as national coordinator for CHRISC Tanzania."

See pictures from the youth league at Kaloleni in the WebAlbum

Coaches talking to the team before match

Referee and field managers

Youth leaders in Tanzania working together

Leaders from the different CHRISC-districts in Tanzania met in Arusha for a "Kicking Aids Out" course. Games, education and brainstorming were important activites at the leader level one workshop.

                                          

17.11.2011

Written by: Åsmund Oltedal

Photos: Åsmund Oltedal        

Peer leaders

The leaders, aged 11 - 22 years had attended a Kicking Aids Out course before, and this was a refresher of the leader level one course. They came from the districts Mwanza, Tanga, Moshi and Arusha and were gathered in Arusha for four days, from 31. october to 3. november. The course aims to encourage and empower them to teach other youth about HIV and AIDS. During the course they were trained in presentation skills, organizing courses, preparations, sport activities, getting resources and network building and many other themes. Meeting leaders from other districts is a good way of building networks, sharing ideas and encouraging each other.

Kicking Aids Out

Kicking Aids Out game

The course was held by CHRISC Tanzania as a part of the Kicking Aids Out network. KAO is a multi-organization network which has head office in South Africa. Many sports organizations and others cooperate to combine sports and HIV/AIDS education. Read more about KAO on the homepage: www.kickingaidsout.net. In this course the youth learnt about how to include KAO activities in their local communities. The leader of the course, Phyneous Masimango was satisfied with the progression of the participants. They have improved since last course and now they have returned to their own regions to kick out AIDS!

See more pictures from the course in the WebAlbum

Participants and course leaders

Activities of October

Many of the CHRISC seminars and events in Tanzania are focused on building youth leaders. These leaders run sports activities for youth with limited economy. Here are some of the events of October 2011.

                                                                                                

Updated: 14.11.2011

Written by: Åsmund Oltedal and Lasse Neslein

Photos: Åsmund Oltedal                                                 

Bonanza, Arusha

CHRISC bonanza is a combination of football tournament and teaching. The 15^th of October there was a bonanza in Arusha. The participants learned about HIV/AIDS before they played a football cup. See the article from the bonanza below.

Girls forum, Mwanza

At saturday 22^nd of October, 30 girls aged 12-16 were gathered in Mwanza district. They were invited to a girls forum. The district leader, Lydia Mtamizi teached the girls about HIV/AIDS before they did

sports activities. The girls learnt about how they can work with people who are infected or affected by HIV, and their important role in this work. Many of the girls are playing on CHRISC football teams in the district, but others were also invited to take part.

Soccer coaching course, Mwanza

From October 6^th there was a 3 days soccer coaching course in Mwanza. Coaches aged 15 to 30 years from the local CHRISC teams participated. They developed their coaching and leadership skills during theory and practical training. The main objective of the course was to make a better football leauge.

Media team, Arusha

Volunteers from Arusha and two Norwegian exchange students are running a media team at the national office in Arusha. They like filming and taking photos to promote the CHRISC work in Tanzania. The media team update the CHRISC blog, make movies and write articles from events like bonanza, football league, leadership seminars, trainings, meetings etc. They also publish game fixtures and results from Arusha youth football league. Find out more about the media team members at "About us" page above.

Players at the Arusha Bonanza

The media team is always ready for new events!