Using the power of soccer to fight HIV/AIDS

Jubilation for the last batch of in-school SKILLZ Kenya HIV awareness program participants during the graduation ceremony at their school. With schools now closing for long holidays, the focus is now shifting to the community centres with a cocktail of football based HIV prevention methodologies lined up including: a youth football league geared towards promotion of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) targeting adolescent boys, distribution of condoms and HIV testing services, etc.

     Coaches Debrief

Skillz Coaches assembling for a debrief to discuss challenges and successes as they gather post questionnaires from their fellow coaches collected from participants. The post questionnaires are conducted after the program to gauge participants’ gained knowledge, attitudes and communication about HIV/AIDS. To gather further qualitative data, focus group discussions and In-depth interviews are conducted in some of the interventions and information entered into the scoreboard where they get analyzed on a monthly basis.

Football With a Different Mission

VAP fc plays in the ongoing Nairobi county league of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). Composed of local former Skillz graduates, most of its players are committed Skillz coaches who give back to the community, visiting schools and community centres implementing HIV awareness programs to other millennials.Led by Ken  who wears two hats, serving as VAP’s master coach (life skills trainer) and club’s head coach, the team is looking forward to be promoted next season. “I feel good to be a footballer and to use the same football to empower my community.” Said 17 year old defender Jared .