Graduation

Grassroot Soccer Graduation

Last week was a busy conclusion to the Grassroots Soccer program in five different schools. Three different graduation ceremonies took place Wednesday and Thursday recognizing gradautes from Masakhane, Sithembile, Kama, Jarvis, and Ben Nyathi primary school. We graduated 200+ students. The children were only able to graduate if they completed 10 out of 19 Grassroot Soccer HIV education activities, completed all homework, and a post quiz evaluating of the children’s understanding of HIV.

Graduation is definitely the most exciting part of my job. I have never seen so many smiling faces. During graduation, speeches are given by GRS staff, the game Pressure Limbo is played, and the best part, kids are given a chance to show off their talentsI have seen everything from song and dance but my most memorable was a role play during the Jarvis graduation. Five children role played the risks and dangers that could lead to contracting HIV.

Here are a few graduation photos:

Jarvis Graduate

Three Jarvis graduates excited to show off their Grassroot Soccer certificates.

Future Grassroot Soccer students.

Graduations are very high in energy that the graduations often attract crowds. These students were excused from class but stuck around and watched the entire graduation from the window. A group of students approached me after the graduation begging for GRS to come and teach their class. The target age for the Grassroot Soccer program is 10-14 so I told the nine year-old bunch we would be back next school year.

Graduating class from Ben Nyathi Primary School.