Richmond TOT

Richmond, South Africa

Hello everyone. Richmond GRS is finally up and running. Last week, March 25-30, Leah and I held a TOT, training of trainers, for 12 local Richmond residents. For one week the participants practiced delivering GRS activities, learned more about HIV, and helped Leah and I assess the needs of Richmond. Leah and I found that 30% of the Richmond High School students are infected with HIV, High School girls are getting into prostitution, and drugs and alcohol are a major problem in Richmond. With the help of Themxo, Bloemfontein GRS Master Trainer, and Siya, Port Elizabeth GRS Master Trainer, we graduated all 12 participants from the Richmond TOT. Meet the new Richmond Grassroot Soccer coaches and our new staff team here in Richmond. Leah and I will be working with the 12 coaches to bring Grassroot Soccer to Richmond.

Top: Sticka, Ricardo, Laurika, Miriam, Bonny, Smiley, Bianca, Saddam,

Bottom: Me, Jessica, Ola, Siya, Mila, Temxo, Leah, Ova

Richmond TOT Master Trainers: Themxo, Me, Siya, and Leah

Our first event will be held April 6^th. On Sunday GRS Richmond will host a 6 team soccer tournament with GRS HIV prevention education. Each team will play 4 soccer games and 2 GRS HIV education activities. Leah and I are using the event to introduce our new coaches and Grassroot Soccer into the Richmond community.

There is no formal HIV education in Richmond so our plan is to introduce GRS to schools and street leagues. Leah and I have also decided to take on a side project bringing HIV education to adults. We plan to have weekly location (township) meetings educating adults in HIV and life skills. We hope they will go out and share the information with their children and other adults in the community.

I am adjusting to life in Richmond. Fall is here. The leaves are turning colors and nights are freezing cold. South Africa is currently having a major power shortage. For the month of April the power in Richmond will be shut off every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6-9. Wednesday night was the first blackout. No one told me about the blackout before therefore I spent Wednesday night in the pitch dark with only the light from my cell phone. Nights and weekends in Richmond are not exactly the most exciting and having power outages does not help the situation. Candles are sold out all over town and flashlights are nowhere to be found. Grocery stores in South Africa advertise they are open during the power outages and giveaways on TV now include GENERATORS. Exciting!

Oh Africa.