Soccer Tournament 2012
Zithulele Sports Festival
On the first weekend of June, the Jabulani, Donald Woods, and Axium Foundations co-sponsored the 3rd annual Zithulele Sports Festival to promote HIV awareness and testing. While over 15 000 people were tested for HIV (by the Department of Health and NGO partners) in this catchment area last year, only 25% of these were men over the age of 15. Therefore the tournament this year was planned with a strong emphasis on encouraging men to test. Part of this involved expanding the tournament to two days, and including adult and youth netball, as well as touch rugby for the male youths with whom Axium have been working over the past year. T-shirts were also made to incentivise men to test with the additional benefit being that when worn after the tournament, they would continue to promote awareness. The women were not neglected, and those who tested had the opportunity to be entered into a lucky draw for hampers of goodies.
Competition amongst the soccer teams was fierce as per usual, especially as this year the teams selected to play had already gone through an earlier elimination round. A large crowd of fans and locals came out to watch the adult soccer and netball, and an unprecedented number got tested for HIV! In the first 4 hours of the day three times more men had tested than at the tournament last year.
On Sunday morning, school children from around the area came to play netball and touch rugby. Not only did the kids learn about hard work and teamwork through sports, but it was also an opportunity for the younger generation to learn more about HIV and how it is transmitted, which is at the core of prevention efforts.
Overall, more than 20 different sports teams took part, prizes were enjoyed by many and 157 people were tested for HIV. It was a wonderfully fun and inspiring weekend for everyone involved, and a step further in our fight against HIV/AIDS.
Competition amongst the soccer teams was fierce as per usual, especially as this year the teams selected to play had already gone through an earlier elimination round. A large crowd of fans and locals came out to watch the adult soccer and netball, and an unprecedented number got tested for HIV! In the first 4 hours of the day three times more men had tested than at the tournament last year.
On Sunday morning, school children from around the area came to play netball and touch rugby. Not only did the kids learn about hard work and teamwork through sports, but it was also an opportunity for the younger generation to learn more about HIV and how it is transmitted, which is at the core of prevention efforts.
Overall, more than 20 different sports teams took part, prizes were enjoyed by many and 157 people were tested for HIV. It was a wonderfully fun and inspiring weekend for everyone involved, and a step further in our fight against HIV/AIDS.
T-Shirts given away to encourage testing.
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