Basic Information

  • Founded in: 2002
  • Located in: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Organisation has also been working with partners to start projects in Lesotho, Sudan, Liberia, Namibia, and Ethiopia.

Short Description:
Grassroot Soccer was founded by professional football players in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe as a project aimed at mobilising the global football community in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Following more than one year of curriculum development and critical evaluation, GRS began to expand its programs outside the borders of Zimbabwe. The organisation, a member of the streetfootballworld network since 2005, trains local role models (including professional football players) to deliver an interactive football themed behaviour development curriculum to youths. Youths are then empowered as peer educators to teach the community at large what they've learned. These educational programs take place in schools, at community centres, and on football fields throughout the developing world. GRS works primarily in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, and Botswana. In addiction, through selected partnerships, the organisation works in other African countries, such as Ethiopia, Liberia, Lesotho, and Namibia. With the help of various partners within the GRS network, the programs are now expanding throughout the developing world.

Target Group:

  • Youths who are at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS

Thematic Field(s):

  • Health Promotion

Support in the Framework of the Football for Hope Movement:
The organisation has utilised Football for Hope subsidies to support their existing HIV/Aids prevention programmes at their Southern African regional flagship sites (primarily Zimbabwe and Zambia) for the year 2007. In order for Grassroot Soccer to reach their organisational and project objectives, relevant funds are going towards the expansion and improvement of the programs through the following processes: increasing of training of trainers, involving more professional players in school visits, acquisition of office and other supplies and supplementary activities like conferences, public events and more.

Contact Details:
Contact Person: Kirk Friedrich
Address: PO Box 5545
City: Hanover, New Hampshire
Country: USA
Tel: +1 401 6191131
Email: kirk.friedrich@gmail.com
Website: http://www.grassrootsoccer.org/