My name is Hayley Watson, thank you for visiting my just giving page. Please take a moment to read on and take a look at the photos and videos which I hope you find touching and inspiring and to understand why I am going out to . I hope that you may then contribute to my fundraising.
For 6 weeks in June and July I am volunteering to work with an award winning charity ‘coaches across continents’ in . The charity works in developing countries to create leaders in those regions; this is done through an educational football programme. Football in is huge! Children often respond much more positively to programmes based upon sport than through school. The specially designed football focused curriculum teaches children about health and social issues. It tries to highlight options open to the children that they may not even realize they have, but will help them to a healthier, safer and happier life. Coaches across continents also provides on going support to local leaders, teachers and coaches so they can deliver the games. This enables the programme to be sustained once the visiting coaches have gone.
I will be one of a small team of coaches delivering the programme to children and teenagers from the Orphanage. I will be helping Orphanage to engage with the local community by using health and life skills education through football. The main aim will be to use football to educate the children on HIV/AIDS, the importance of staying in school and leadership skills.
The life of a Ugandan orphan is scarred by a degree of cruelty and neglect beyond the comprehension of most western observers. After watching both their parents waste away slowly from AIDS, the child is almost always left without an able, and many times not even a loving, caregiver. Siblings are invariably separated. Some are sent to grandparents, others to aunts, uncles and cousins. Orphans are treated as outsiders and given last priority in everything from distributing food at dinner to medical and school fees. If a foster family’s financial situation worsens, the orphans are the first forced onto the street. With nowhere to go, girl orphans are often forced into prostitution or an early marriage. Boys join the swelling ranks of the street kids—homeless children who congregate in gangs, dig through rubbish for food, sleep on store verandahs and subject themselves to all sorts of labour and even sexual exploitation. Orphanage provides a safe loving environment which children are free to be kids again.
I’m sure this will be a great physical and emotional challenge but at the same time the most rewarding one of my life. I am very much looking forward to making a difference to the children and communities in by bringing some fun, learning and a lasting affect to the children who otherwise have very little in life.
I would be very greatful if you would consider in making a donation through the website towards the journey I am about to embark upon. I will also be running the 10k race in May in aid of coaches across continents. In return for your donation I will keep you up to date through my blog about how your money is making a difference. Any contribution would help the charity to reach more children and send more coaches to the communities changing the life of many people.
Thank you so much!
Hayley Watson.
