Using Sports for Social Change in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Hello and good day,

My name is Dean Doeling.  I am a Graphic Designer and I work at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton Oregon.

I am a huge fan of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.  I have been there four times and I am headed back next May. I have witnessed first hand and have also heard that the schools of St. John are in need of some help because the local government overlooks them.  Let me tell you about something that I am working on here at Nike:

The last time I was in St. John (a year and a half ago), I noticed that the kids were outside playing with a (one) flat soccer ball.  I also noticed that the basketball hoops did not have nets on them, and some were not even useable.  Maybe they didn’t even have basketballs to play with.  Anyway, it put an idea into my head that since I work at Nike, I could use Nike as a resource to help the kids achieve some athletic goals, thereby giving them courage and enough confidence to achieve other lifetime goals:

sport-for-social-change-proposal

“Focus Virgin Island youth through sports and fitness, giving them the confidence that they need to set personal goals, achieve their aspirations and to create opportunity for themselves, their family and their community.”

Recent Article about Virgin Island youth in Sport:  just-my-opinion

These are U.S. Schools?:

I realize that I can not do this myself and I need help from others in order to really make this happen. I have just started to lay the ground work and have spoken with a few people within Nike, as well as parents and teachers on St. John, USVI. 

Would you be willing to help me with this project in some capacity?  I would like the chance to be able to correspond with you and get your ideas on how you think I could make the biggest positive impact with these kids.  This will of course include the public and private schools of St. John, and hopefully, later, extend to the other Caribbean islands.  I just need to start somewhere.

This is a long term goal of mine which I have placed in writing on my CFE.  A CFE is a road map that measures my individual output, keeping me inline with my work goals and personal goals.  This is going to be at least a 3-5 year work plan.  My intention is to assist with current athletic programs set up by the schools and community and/or set up a sports and fitness program (or programs) that will eventually be self supporting within the community.  This plan will involve local businesses, Charitable organizations, Nike vendors and of course, Nike as well.

Please let me know to what capacity, if any, you would be willing to help with. If you feel that there is someone else I should contact, please email me that information as well.

Your response via email would be appreciated. You may also contact me via phone, the number is 503-532-6756.  I am hoping to have some things lined up by May of next year.

Thank you very much for your time everyone.

Sincerely,

         
         Dean Doeling 

American student uses sport to fight child labor

Jacob Levitt is a student with a mission-to prevent child labor, and to ensure fair labor practices for everyone, young and old.

Jacob is now thirteen and first learned about child labor when he was in sixth grade and his class began a lesson on it. He was horrified to learn that children around the world were sold into slavery and forced to work long hours, but he also wanted to find out more about the issue in the hopes that maybe he would be able to do something about it.

When Jacob began middle school, he joined a group called SANDBOCS, which stands for Saving All Neglected, Denied, and Blatantly Oppressed Children from Slavery. In addition, as part of his Bar Mitzvah preparation, Jacob must take on a social justice project. Like a lot of kids, Jacob loves sports, and so he decided to combine his love of sports with his growing interest and sense of injustice over child labor issues.

Jacob has since become one of the youngest and most dynamic supporters of Fair Trade Sports soccer balls. He organized a meeting with the Northampton Soccer Club, where he explained unfair labor practices and convinced the group to begin using our Fair Trade balls. He’s now trying to encourage the Northampton High School to team up with the Northampton Soccer Club to make the bulk amount of balls they will need to order feasible and more affordable. He’s also hoping to get the city of Northampton Recreation Department to consider using Fair Trade Sports soccer balls in their leagues as well.

Kudos, Jacob!

Learn more at the Fair Trade Sports blog.

US youth bringing positive change to Guatemala

Tenerife, a soccer team coached by Luis Alvarez in the Youth Soccer League of Antigua, Guatemala received a special gift from a highly motivated young adult, setting a new standard for Fair Trade in Action.

In Guatemala, youth teams struggle to get and maintain proper athletic gear to participate in club sports. The cost of balls alone can be daunting to non-profit clubs. Tenerife was just one of the teams struggling with this problem in the Antigua Youth Soccer League. The importance of sports in developing countries cannot be underestimated. Sports encourages confidence, team work and positive activities when kids are surrounded by negative influences and strife.

It was this motivation that drove a North American students named Koby to work tirelessly to procure a set of United Nations Millennium Campaign soccer balls to take to Guatemala for the local teams. Koby didn’t just supply any soccer balls - he chose Fair Trade. Because of his decision, he has benefitted not only Guatemalan children, but also the producers who make the soccer balls!

In addition, because Koby raised money for the balls from neighbors, friends, and other soccer parents, he was able to introduce those contributors to Fair Trade principals.

Koby traveled to Guatemala with his family to deliver the balls this past summer. As a result, teams in the Antigua youth soccer league have new equipment that promotes Fair Trade and economic justice. You can see Tenerife’s newest team player, Koby, in the back row of this photo! Learn more at the Fair Trade Sports blog.

Survivor Champion to Dribble 500 Miles for Grassroot Soccer

Starting in August 2008 Ethan Zohn, Champion of CBS Survivor Africa, will dribble a soccer ball 500 miles from Boston, MA to Washington, DC, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. The 2008 Dribble will launch Grassroot Soccer United, a youth-led soccer club designed to support kids around the world in their fight against HIV/AIDS. Selected as one of three SFBW winners, Grassroot Soccer uses the power and popularity to arm African youth with the knowledge, life skills, and social support they need to live HIV-free.

On August 20, 2008, the New England Revolution host a Major League Soccer match in Gillette Stadium just outside Boston, MA. Minutes before the starting whistle, from the center of the pitch, Ethan will begin his southern trek. One step, one dribble and one day at a time, Zohn and GRS-U will visit hundreds of youth soccer clubs and players, between Boston and Washington, coaching soccer clinics, informing about the challenges of growing up in southern Africa, and teaching about the importance of making healthy choices in life. Zohn will conclude the dribble on December 1, 2008, in Washington DC on World AIDS Day.

This initiative is sponsored by PUMA, a long-time supporter of African Football. PUMA has created PUMA and GRS co-branded soccer balls and apparel with all proceeds benefiting GRS’s mission. PUMA and GRS first worked together in 2006 when they teamed up on “The African Game,” a special book project celebrating African Football.

To learn more, participate, and support Grassroot Soccer United, visit www.grassrootsoccerunited.org. The top 11 fundraisers will win a trip to South Africa.

Grassroot Soccer United Promo Video