It’s hard to express valuable experiences and learning that I have achieved as an intern in Kenya and Tanzania from 09th to the 27th June within the Kicking AIDS Out! Network. This was achieved through daily life experiences in two East Africa nations and knowledge obtained from Kicking AIDS Out concept, through implementing activities. However, it is firmly confirmed that the outcomes were more than expectations.
The warmly welcome by my hosts Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) and Christian Sport Contact (CHRISC) Kenyan office and their support during my stay added to the rich experiences I acquired and success of my internship. Travelling to Africa was a new experience for me as I clearly felt that I was out of my comfort zone and family, and had to get best out of everything in order to learn and to apply when I get back home.
A big change for me was travelling in 10 MYSA zones (communities) in the slums of Nairobi. Experiencing the daily life of the poorest people in Nairobi; people living with lack of water, power and even the rest room, low living standard, two or three people living in a three or five square meters rental house, however… always smiling, hardworking, friendly, ‘nice’ dancing and travelling with “express – bus” (Matatus) is something you will see every day down here. Visiting MYSA and CHRISC and its projects was a good chance and outstanding extra outcome for me as an intern, to learn both organizational structures and its activities and how we can work together. And this can prove that sometimes we cannot work alone but we have to share and to learn from each other for further development, like opening our mind and eye to see and to know and then to apply.
The internship was a great time for me to experience and learn through Kicking AIDS Out activities. It did not only help me understand more about Kicking AIDS Out concept and the network but also created a chance for me to be close with Kicking AIDS Out activities, implementers, peer leaders and stakeholders and the children; youth and players and especially the culture and people in Africa. This will motivate and help me for the planning and implementing Kicking AIDS Out activities in “Football for All in Vietnam” as we have the same interest of using sport in general and football in particular as a tool to integrate life skill education; HIV & AIDS prevention in sport/football activities to help the participants, children, youth, stakeholder to cope with their daily lives and to develop their communities.
In and off the field football activities with the integration of Kicking AIDS Out concept was implemented naturally at the local leagues and in schools within the zones. It was not difficult to recognize the enthusiasm and the passion of both implementers and participants. Activities in the warm up session before the matches were a good way to integrate life skills education, HIV & AIDS prevention for the youth, especially children with great active group of Peer Leaders, Leader Level1s and Leader Level 2s. The Kicking AIDS Out activities in resource centers and schools were also a key approach for the youth and to identify the peer leaders.
Many good games were well implemented by the peers during the football activities in local communities proving that they have well – trained qualified leaders and organized league. The games were linked to the football matches that were played which attracted the participation of the youth players. Games also lead them to respect, communicate and protect each other during the matches and in their daily life. I observed openness during discussions between facilitators and players which I believe may have led to the behavior change mentioned above.
In Tanzania being with group of Peer Leaders, LL1, LL2 and participating in East Africa Cup are the great memories for me. I did not only have a good Kicking AIDS Out! Curriculum Guidelines orientation workshop but also met new friends whom I learnt more from about the Kicking AIDS Out approach and how they integrated it in their organizations. Through the workshop, I understood more about Kicking AIDS Out both as a concept and a network. The workshop gave participants an opportunity to share best practices which gave me new ideas; we also had a chance to work together and conduct the Kicking AIDS Out activities during East Africa cup in the morning seminars and the Kicking AIDS Out games before the matches. One of the impressions I got is the number of players participating in Kicking AIDS Out classes during the morning seminars which was higher than the other classes. It impressed me about their understanding and openness on the discussions about sexuality, sex abuse, HIV&AIDS, gender based violence, growth and development.
In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to express highly my appreciation and acknowledge the great support from Kicking AIDS Out! Network Secretariat, MYSA, CHRISC and friends, especially Edwin & Pauline from MYSA and Emma & Alex from CHRISC who gave great support for my success and memories in Kenya and Tanzania as the mentioned learning and memories will be together with me for the rest of my life.