Leagues for poor teens around the world
It’s “Game On!” for Children International and the International Alliance For Youth Sports (IAYS) as they announce a partnership that brings organized sports leagues to poor children and teens around the world!
For Children International, a U.S.-based humanitarian organization which helps more than 335,000 poor children, 135,000 of those being teens between ages 12-19, the partnership supports community development in poverty-stricken areas. IAYS teaches a program to volunteers called Game On! Youth Sports that encourages fun, participation and positive competition, while integrating life skills into its lessons.
“Millions of children in the U.S. benefit physically and socially from playing sports, but for millions of children around the world this simply isn’t the case,” said IAYS Founder Fred Engh. “Children International, working hand in hand with IAYS, is bringing organized sports to children throughout their agencies worldwide to show the world that sports aren’t simply throwing or kicking a ball, but more so, the opportunity to teach life skills that can enhance the lives of children everywhere.”
Game On! has been widely popular around the world since its inception. Highly successful programs have been held throughout Africa, India, Central America and the Caribbean, which have impacted thousands of children.
After launching a children’s soccer league in Mexico and with new leagues in Colombia expected by early 2010, Game On! Youth Sports encourages participation from parents, teachers, teens and volunteers wishing to coach teams and organize games. By providing volunteer training, IAYS teaches parents and volunteers interpersonal communication skills which improve their relationships with children in their community. Training also enables teens to co-captain many younger teams. The sense of pride parents and volunteers receive from overseeing teams and leagues often provides them with self-esteem and better leadership tools.
Game On! Youth Sports appeals to populations of underserved, impoverished teens who are at-risk of dropping out of school and taking part in risky behaviors, such as gangs, early pregnancy, drug abuse or crime. Through the program, teens are encouraged to participate in leagues where they learn skills like making a life plan, decision-making, resisting peer pressure and conflict resolution, motivating them to stay in school.
Children International’s President and CEO Jim Cook said, “Children International is excited to work with IAYS on real community development at the grassroots level. Using sports as a medium to teach parents and children new skills will improve their lives and help remove the stigma poverty places on their lives.”
Source: Children International
Youth to Fight Obesity With World’s Largest Exercise Class
Children around the world exercise in unison for 21st annual Project ACES Day
Millions of children in schools across the globe will walk, jog, bike or play games on May 6 as a part of Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) Day. This Youth Fitness Coalition (YFC) signature program, in partnership with American College of Sports Medicine’s Exercise is Medicine(TM) initiative, promotes physical activity to children in order to decrease the prevalence of childhood obesity.
Created in 1989 by physical education teacher Len Saunders as a method of motivating children to exercise, Project ACES Day takes place on the first Wednesday each May as part of Exercise is Medicine(TM) Month, National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and National Physical Education Week. Project ACES Clubs continue to promote physical activity all year long by pledging to create youth fitness programs in their schools.
“For more than 20 years, Project ACES’ programs have been organized and conducted by the YFC. We hope to not only get kids active now, but also educate them about the importance of physical fitness throughout their lifetime,” said H.J. Saunders, Youth Fitness Coalition Founder and President.
In the past, Project ACES events have taken place in all 50 states and countries around the world, such as England, South Africa, Poland, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Liberia and Taiwan.
Putnam School in Marietta, Ohio, has been participating in Project ACES events for more than 10 years.
“Our school’s jump rope team leads warm-up exercises, and then we exercise as a group on our playground,” said Barb Moberg, a physical education teacher at Putnam School. “We host special guests like the mayor, YMCA fitness instructors and school board members. We also encourage friends and families to join in. The whole celebration demonstrates how fitness can mean more than running a few laps.”
Patrick Clark, an educator at the Key Learning Community River Campus in Indianapolis, says Project ACES and other programs play a key role in educating children about the importance of physical activity.
“These activities give students a chance to move around during the school day, and they often find that exercise can be fun,” Clark said.
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 engage in 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day, including aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening exercises.
Additional Exercise is Medicine(TM) Month events in May continue to promote the message of the importance of physical activity to physicians, fitness professionals, members of the public, organizations and businesses.
For more information on Exercise is Medicine(TM) and how to get involved with Project ACES, visit www.exerciseismedicine.org and www.projectaces.com.
The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 35,000 international, national, and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.
The Youth Fitness Coalition is a New Jersey-based non-profit organization committed to combating childhood obesity by making exercise programs fun and by educating children, parents and teachers about the importance of lifelong fitness and making healthy lifestyle choices.
Source: American College of Sports Medicine
Special Olympics Minnesota Launches Project UNIFY to Energize Youth
Special Olympics Minnesota receives $20,000 to support local programs as part of a nationwide Special Olympics initiative
Special Olympics Minnesota recently received $20,000 in funding to support Project UNIFY as part of Special Olympics International’s new national program. Project UNIFY is an initiative to activate young people across the United States in an effort to promote school communities where all young people are agents of change – fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Minnesota believes that through sports, young people can make a difference in friendships, schools and communities.
In 2009, Special Olympics Minnesota will host a Project UNIFY “Challenges Through Choice” course to be offered to 16 students with intellectual disabilities and 16 students without intellectual disabilities. The goal is to UNIFY these students in an inclusive manner and foster positive lifelong skills, attitudes and diverse relationships. Special Olympics Minnesota will partner with eight Twin Cities metro-area high schools (Armstrong, Cooper, Edina, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Wayzata) to recruit for “Challenges Through Choice,” which will be held in a series of sessions Jan. 23, Feb. 20, March 20, April 24 and two classes in May at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minn. from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Project UNIFY leadership activities will help develop the next generation of leaders and advocates for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The project was made possible by $4.4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education pursuant to fiscal 2008 appropriations under the authority of HR5131, “The Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act,” and the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” which Special Olympics International received in June 2008.
To kick off Project UNIFY, 17 young people from across the country, aged 14-20, with and without intellectual disabilities, assembled in Washington, D.C., Sept. 18-20, 2008 for the first meeting of Project UNIFY’s Youth Advisory Committee. The committee met during the Department of Education’s 2008 Global Summit on Education, the theme of which was “Inclusive Practices for Students with Disabilities.”
Special Olympics Minnesota offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Through Special Olympics’ athletic, health and leadership programs, people with intellectual disabilities transform themselves, their communities and the world.
Source: Special Olympics Minnesota
United States Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution in Support of the Youth Impact Program
Riki Ellison, Founder of the Youth Impact Program, www.youthimpactprogram.org announced today the United States Senate of the 110th Congress passed by unanimous consent Senate Resolution 725 acknowledging the accomplishments and goals of the Youth Impact Program. Senator David Vitter of Louisiana sponsored the resolution on December 9th, 2008, which was submitted to the Senate, considered and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by unanimous consent.
Ellison stated: “On behalf of the inner-city at-risk young boys and their families throughout our nation, especially in New Orleans and Los Angeles, we are deeply moved by the recognition and honored that the United States Senate and Senator Vitter would put forward a resolution in support of vision and accomplishments of the Youth Impact Program. We are very proud of the results and measurable accomplishments that were achieved in this year’s program.” Two of them include:
- There was a doubling from 35% to 68.8% in the percentage of boys who reported that they like reading after participation in the YIP program
- Prior to the camp over 50% of the boys had never completed a novel or chapter of a book, and by the end of camp all of them had done so
“The Youth Impact program will continue to grow in 2009 in key urban inner city areas around the nation, as sites in Houston, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts and Detroit, Michigan are being considered to join Los Angeles, California and New Orleans, Louisiana for this innovative educational program that is making permanent impacts in the lives our young at-risk minority youth.”
“We are grateful for the outstanding support given to the YIP by the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL Players Association and the National Football League’s Youth Football Program headed by Alexia Gallager. Their support and contributions have made a difference and impact to the two communities where we have programs. The New Orleans Saints ownership, Ms. Rita LaBlank is a strong supporter of the program in New Orleans, and we thank her for her support. The universities of Tulane and USC, their respective Presidents Scott Cowan and Dr. John Sample as well as their Athletic Directors Rick Dickson and Mike Garret are to be commended in their belief and underlying support of the Youth Impact Program.”
“We are driven to making our nation and our communities a better place through the education of underprivileged minority young men through academics, the teaching of life skills, the development of athletics through the members and institutions of the communities they live in. The opportunities for these young boys to participate in the Youth Impact Program changes their lives and propels them to positive educational and career paths which are so challenged today in their inner-city environments. The support and relationships from the teachers, the mentors, the universities and the NFL teams for these young men is permanent and life changing.”
Ellison closed his remarks by thanking Senator David Vitter (R-LA) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for their continuing support of the Youth Impact Program. He also praised Diane Watson (D-33, CA) for her support and sponsoring of the Resolution in the House of Representatives.
Source: Youth Impact Program (MDAA)