Monday, June 28, 2010
Suport Coach Matt and Athletes for Africa
Hello Friends,
I am competing in two Ultra Marathons this summer in Canada, the Sinister 7 Ultra Marathon and Lost Sole Ultra Marathon, both totaling over 150k each. While competing, I am aiming to raise 10bucks for each KM for Athletes for Africa. Athletes for Africa is a nonprofit organization that uses the power and profile of sport to promote global citizenship and empower the next generation of youth in Africa. By raising funds and increasing awareness, A4A supports local programs that strengthen communities, provide education and foster skills development.
Please help me if you can reach my target of $3100. by September 11th. The link to my personal fund raising site is below:
http://www.myathletesforafrica.com/mattclark
Cheers,
Coach Matt
For more information about both Athletes for Africa and the Athletic Bucketlist please read on…
Athletes for Africa is a nonprofit organization that uses the power and profile of sport to promote global citizenship and empower the next generation of youth in Africa. By raising funds and increasing awareness, A4A supports local programs that strengthen communities, provide education and foster skills development. We work with athletes at all levels—from the the professional to the playground—providing them with the tools to start their own campaigns, inspire others and make a difference. Like music and art, sport has a transcendent quality. It energizes us and unites us. At Athletes for Africa, we want to harness that spirit to create change both at home and abroad.
Athletes for Africa supports local programs that strengthen communities, provide education and foster skills development. We’re partnered with other humanitarian organizations that provide support on the ground in northern Uganda, southern Sudan and the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The funds we raise go toward assisting these organizations deliver their programs on a daily basis. NORTHERN UGANDA: PEACEBUILDING AND RECONSTRUCTION A4A is currently working with a local charity to build a youth cultural centre in Gulu that will engage youth in cultural and community development activities. A4A also supports efforts to train youth groups in peer-counselling, conflict resolution and peace advocacy in the war-torn districts of Gulu, Amuru and Pader. These peacebuilding projects aim to foster a culture of peace while strengthening community support structures and provide income-generating activities for the region’s next generation of young people. The program provides opportunities for youth to deal with past traumas in an area that has been afflicted by a 23-year civil war that has left over 1.5-million people displaced. This program is delivered in partnership with Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief. THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: EDUCATION A4A contributes to educational programs that seek to reintegrate former child soldiers and child mothers into the country’s school system and larger society in the wake of a conflict that has killed over 4-million people, the bloodiest since World War II. To date, this program has successfully rehabilitated 11 schools in Fizi territory and helped over 4000 children and youth gain access to education. More than 400 teachers have been trained from over 30 different schools. Three dozen youth have also been trained in radio programming, HIV/AIDS awareness and peacebuilding. This program is delivered in partnership with War Child Canada.
SOUTHERN SUDAN: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING A4A supports efforts to empower young women in Tali, South Sudan. In addition to the devastating effects of more than two decades of civil conflict, youth and young mothers there are inhibited by the lack of value placed on girls education, forced marriage and early pregnancy. The project aims to improve livelihoods through trades training; providing seed funding for youth entrepreneurship; the creation of a youth development centre; and encouraging a young mothers’ initiative to support girls who have grown dependent or isolated in their marriages. This program is delivered in partnership with African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Canada.
Former professional triathlete and creator of the Athletic Bucketlist-Matthew Clark, is helping to drive a new campaign with Athletes for Africa called the ‘Be Campaign’ . The campaign involves athletes of any sport, shape or size fund raising for the above programs throughout Africa while training and racing for their chosen goal/s in the multisport world. It gives Athletes a chance to not only race for their own personal satisfaction and goal, but while doing so supporting a very vital and worthy cause.
Check out the link below and become An Athlete for Africa:
www.athletesforafrica.com/getinvolved
For more information on Matthew’s initiative visit his personal blog:
www.theathleticbucketlist.blogspot.com
Cheers,
Matt
Posted by Coach Kelly on 06/28/10 at 10:41 AM
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