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<p><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>Many of you know about my twin passions of youth football coaching and International Development. It is my goal to become a coach for TackleAfrica, and to deliver HIV awareness in Africa through the power of football. I have already attended the first part of my training, and will complete this by the November 2011. All being well, I hope to take part in my first Africa coaching trip in 2012. Sadly a knee inury has meant I am no longer able to take part in the Barns Green Half Marathon on 30th October 2011, but rest assured I am planning further fundraising exploits in the very near future! Watch this space for further information.</strong></span></p>
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<strong><span style="color: #ffcc00;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #339966;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">T</span></span><span style="color: #ff0000;">ackleAfrica use football coaching to deliver life-saving messages about HIV to young Africans in a way that improves knowledge, deepens understanding and promotes positive long term behaviour change</span></span></span></strong></span></span></span></span></strong></p>
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<p><strong><span style="color: #ffcc00;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Their Vision is a</span></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color: #ffcc00;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong><span style="color: #ffcc00;"><span style="color: #ff0000;">n Africa where all young people have the information, freedom, confidence and resources to make the right choices to protect themselves and each other from HIV</span></span></strong></span></span></span></strong>
<p>Football is the world’s most popular sport – and in Africa it has attained enormous significance, breaking down barriers and providing opportunities for even the most disadvantaged to shine.</p>
<p>By capitalising on this interest, TackleAfrica and its local partners can create a platform that can be used to as a tool for communicating vital messages, mobilising communities to join the fight against HIV, enabling people to protect themselves properly and challenging the plethora of stigma and misconceptions that surround the disease.</p>
<p>Since 2003 they have been working with expert local partners in 16 sub-Saharan countries, using football as a method of reaching young people and using classroom based activities to deliver HIV related information. In January 2007 they succesfully took that information out onto the pitch with unique coaching drills specifically designed to inform players about HIV as well as improve their football skills.</p>
<p>At the end of 2007 they produced their first HIV awareness through coaching manual, with an updated version published in May 2010. They continue to work with local partners and young people across Africa, training local coaches, teachers and partner-employed multipliers to use the manual to extend and continue the reach of our work.</p>
<p><strong>What They Do</strong></p>
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<li>Fund activities organised by their partners in Africa including youth football tournaments, peer education training, HIV awareness/testing football events and projects to encourage safe behaviour amongst young people </li>
<li>Build the capacity of local partners with coaching projects and by distributing our HIV awareness through football coaching manual </li>
<li>Train African coaches, peer educators, youth leaders and teachers to deliver HIV messaging through football </li>
<li>Train UK football coaches to deliver HIV messaging through football in Africa, raise funds for our partners and raise awareness in the UK of the HIV pandemic in Africa </li>
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<p>Thank you so much for taking the time for visiting my justgiving page.</p>
<p>Take care,</p>
<p>Colin</p>
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