so what is Jersey's For Africa????
In May of 2008, my friend Debbie Poggemoeller and I decided to collect soccer jerseys to include in the 40-foot container of building supplies going to Rwanda, part of the Wellspring Foundation.
approx. 300 jerseys, cleats, soccer balls, shorts and socks were sent!
About one year later I was contacted by Angela Yablonski, local businesswoman and founder of The Zimbabwe Project (more on this later). She had heard about us sending jerseys to Rwanda and asked if we could do the same for Zimbabwe? She was approached by Peter in Zimbabwe who was wanting to create community with the youth in rural villages using soccer as a positive way for them to spend their time, to keep them away from drugs and sex and ultimately to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.
3 years later, over 1000 jerseys, cleats, shorts, guards, & soccer balls have been sent to Zimbabwe. And I am very happy to report that we have another 7 hockey bags full of soccer gear which will be carried by Angela's team in May who we will meet up with in Zimbabwe on our trip!!! All of this equipment has been generously donated by the Vernon Soccer Community through the VantageOne Indoor Soccer facility.
With all the sales from his book Spirit Wolf Landon was able to donate enough money to purchase 150 pairs of soccer shorts for Zimbabwe!!
In May of 2008, my friend Debbie Poggemoeller and I decided to collect soccer jerseys to include in the 40-foot container of building supplies going to Rwanda, part of the Wellspring Foundation.
approx. 300 jerseys, cleats, soccer balls, shorts and socks were sent!
About one year later I was contacted by Angela Yablonski, local businesswoman and founder of The Zimbabwe Project (more on this later). She had heard about us sending jerseys to Rwanda and asked if we could do the same for Zimbabwe? She was approached by Peter in Zimbabwe who was wanting to create community with the youth in rural villages using soccer as a positive way for them to spend their time, to keep them away from drugs and sex and ultimately to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.
3 years later, over 1000 jerseys, cleats, shorts, guards, & soccer balls have been sent to Zimbabwe. And I am very happy to report that we have another 7 hockey bags full of soccer gear which will be carried by Angela's team in May who we will meet up with in Zimbabwe on our trip!!! All of this equipment has been generously donated by the Vernon Soccer Community through the VantageOne Indoor Soccer facility.
Peter explains the impact access to soccer equipment has had on the villages in Zimbabwe:
“A significant number of youth have been forced to drop from school because either the parents have failed to pay the school fees or both parents have died of AIDS. Lack of entertainment within the Zimbabwe rural communities is also contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS. We have discovered that through soccer we can unify the people and provide entertainment for them. Once we manage to unify the youth we can then start income generating projects for them. Soccer has been playing a pivotal role in unifying the communities and resources are the only challenge we have. Ladies and gentleman I assure you that soccer is playing a vital role in changing the mindset of our youths in the rural areas. We are also taking soccer as a talent developmental program; we are looking forward to organized games where youth from the rural area will showcase their talents to big soccer teams so that they can be employed. For us to achieve our goal of community development through soccer we cordially need your support and assistance.
May God bless you in your support.” Peter Maguwu GKT (trustee) Zimbabwe
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| Our latest collection of jerseys from the Vernon soccer players! |
WHOOO-HOOOO WELL DONE SON!
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