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Sports like soccer are great for the children at Ubuntu Africa for many reasons- exercise boosts the immune system which helps our kids stay healthy and it also boosts their self-esteem. In addition to having to deal with a life-threatening illness, many children in the impoverished area of Khayelitsha who are living with HIV have been orphaned, struggle to get enough food to eat, and have to deal with the stigma surrounding their disease children struggling with HIV. Playing sports like soccer gives these children the opportunity to have fun and be children again! The children at Ubuntu Africa have also participated in HIV education through soccer - it was a really fun way for them to learn about their disease and how they can live a healthy lifestyle - children learn more when they are having fun so incorporating soccer into their education is a great way to empower them with the knowledge and confidence they need!
Having the World Cup in South Africa is a great opportunity for South Africa to connect with the World. Children living in impoverished communities, such as Khayelitsha, are often marginalized and it is exciting the attention that the world cup draws has the potential to give a voice to these children. At Ubuntu Africa we hope that the World Cup will be a platform from which we can garner support for the HIV positive children that we work with. A professional soccer player, Thomas Hitzlsperger, is supporting Ubuntu Africa and one year ago came to Khayelitsha to visit Ubuntu Africa's center and spend time with the HIV positive children that we work with. During his visit he spent time with the children of Ubuntu Africa and filmed a documentary movie about his visit to Ubuntu Africa which will air on German television this June. For the children having a professional soccer player spend time with them was amazing- he played with them and spoke with them about soccer- he is a great role model for the children at Ubuntu Africa who really look up to him. During Hitzlsperger's time at the center he also learned a lot about what children with HIV in South Africa are facing- when Hitzlsperger returned to Europe he shared his experience with others and garnered support for Ubuntu Africa's children from many people overseas. It means so much to the children that we work with that people from overseas have connected with them and support them. Soccer is amazing as it has the ability to connect people from all over the world. You can learn more about the documentary film by clicking here
There is so much fear surrounding HIV and many young people with HIV have low self-esteem and feel that they cannot be successful- at Ubuntu Africa we teach the children that they can live long and healthy lives, how to take their medications, and boost their confidence.
Soccer is one tool that we use to educate, empower, and build the children's confidence and the sport has had a profound effect on them.
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