WhizzKids United

Last updated

WhizzKids United is a youth HIV / AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support programme that uses football as an educational medium to facilitate healthy behaviour change. The programme is based in Durban, South Africa and is run by Africaid, a registered charity in the United Kingdom (Reg. No. 1045461) and South Africa (Reg. No. 051-379-NPO).

Contents

Background

WhizzKids United was created [1] [2] by Marcus McGilvray, a Welsh HIV nurse specialist who worked with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health on the ARV roll-out. The programme is rooted in the Social Cognitive Theory of behaviour and was developed over several years of practical experience working with adolescents in KwaZulu-Natal. Studies have consistently found that KwaZulu-Natal has the highest HIV prevalence of any province in South Africa, with approximately 25% of the population infected in the 15-49 age group. [3] [4]

The programme was piloted in Edendale [5] in 2006 and later expanded to Umlazi and Jozini in KwaZulu-Natal as well as Rustenburg in North West Province and areas of Western Cape province. The U.K. arm of the organisation also runs programmes in Ghana, Uganda and Australia, as well as in the United Kingdom itself at Premier League youth clubs in partnership with the Football Foundation. [6] [7] [8]

Programme Overview

WhizzKids United is an HIV prevention programme focusing primarily on Grade 6 and 7 students and consisting of three components. On the Ball is an eight-session curriculum which uses football drills and games to teach life skills interactively by using the game as a metaphor for life. This course is followed by peer education workshops focusing on sexual health. The long-term component of the programme is the Health Academy, [9] a holistic adolescent-friendly sexual health clinic which offers free HIV testing, Antiretroviral treatment, Orphans and Vulnerable support and other services, along with recreational and educational activities such as football leagues and computer resource centres.[ citation needed ]

The programme recognises the gendered nature of HIV/AIDS in South Africa and as such includes gender equality as a central theme. [10]

Association with Football for Hope

Since 2007, WhizzKids United has been a member of streetfootballworld, [11] a Germany-based worldwide network of youth development through football projects. streetfootballworld implements Football for Hope, the social responsibility movement of FIFA. In July 2010, WhizzKids United participated in the Football for Hope Festival 2010 in Alexandra, an official part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. [12]

In August 2010, FIFA announced that as part of the 20 Centres for 2010 campaign, FIFA has selected the WhizzKids United Health Academy in Edendale, KwaZulu-Natal to be one of the 20 Football for Hope Centres across Africa.

Awards and Accolades

Related Research Articles

KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu and Natal Province were merged. It is located in the southeast of the country, with a long shoreline on the Indian Ocean and sharing borders with three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho. Its capital is Pietermaritzburg, and its largest city is Durban. It is the second-most populous province in South Africa, with slightly fewer residents than Gauteng.

Pietermaritzburg Place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838 and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its Zulu name umGungundlovu is the name used for the district municipality. Pietermaritzburg is popularly called Maritzburg in Afrikaans, English and Zulu alike, and often informally abbreviated to PMB. It is a regionally important industrial hub, producing aluminium, timber and dairy products, as well as the main economic hub of Umgungundlovu District Municipality. The public sector is a major employer in the city due to local, district and provincial governments located here.

University of KwaZulu-Natal University in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is a university with five campuses in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.

Umlazi Place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. It is the fourth largest township in South Africa, after Soweto, Tembisa and Katlehong. Umlazi is the only township in the country that has its own registration plate, which is NUZ. It is divided into 26 sections, A through to Z, with the exception of I, O and X, but with an addition of AA, BB and CC.

Edendale Hospital, established in 1954, is a 1,275- bed regional and district hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, operated by the KZN Department of Health.

AmaZulu F.C. South African Association Football club

AmaZulu Football Club is a South African professional Soccer club based in the city of Durban in the KwaZulu Natal province, that plays in the Premier Soccer League the first-tier of South African football league system. The club's nickname, Usuthu, is a Zulu war cry.

HIV/AIDS in South Africa Health concern in South Africa

HIV/AIDS is one of the most serious health concerns in South Africa. The country has the highest number of people afflicted with HIV of any country, and the fourth-highest adult HIV prevalence rate, according to the 2019 United Nations statistics.

Zweli Mkhize South African politician

Zwelini Lawrence Mkhize is a South African doctor, legislator and politician who served as the Minister of Health from May 2019 until his resignation on Thursday 5 August 2021. In this role, he was prominent in South Africa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He previously served as the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2018 to 2019. He was the 5th Premier of KwaZulu-Natal from 2009 to 2013. Mkhize is a member of the African National Congress and was the party's Treasurer-General between 2012 and 2017.

Dianne Kohler Barnard South African politician

Dianne Kohler Barnard is a South African politician and former journalist, and a Member of Parliament for the Democratic Alliance (DA). In October 2015, she was expelled from the party by the DA Federal Executive. In December 2015, the decision was lifted on appeal to the DA's Federal Legal Commission.

Thanda Safari is a five-star safari lodge at the heart of the Elephant Coast in Umkhanyakude District Municipality (KwaZulu-Natal), South Africa. The founders are Christin and Dan Olofsson from Malmö, Sweden. The word Thanda means love in Zulu language and the Thanda lodge operation is a celebration of the Zulu culture. In 2009, Thanda made it to the top as The World’s Leading Luxury Lodge. The prize has been called the Oscar of the travel industry.

Mpophomeni is a town in Umgungundlovu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

HIV/AIDS in South African townships

South Africa's HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is among the most severe in the world, is concentrated in its townships, where many black South Africans live due to the lingering effects of the Group Areas Act.

Edendale is a township in Msunduzi local municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

The Zulu sheep breed is native to South Africa and is predominantly raised by rural farmers in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. It serves primarily as a source of food and income to poor resource farmers. It belongs to the Nguni type of sheep together with the Pedi and the Swazi sheep.

Ben Ngubane South African politician

Baldwin Sipho "Ben" Ngubane was a politician from South Africa. He held multiple positions in the post-apartheid government of the country. In particular, he was Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and minister of Arts, Culture from 1994 until 31 August 1996 and from February 1999 until April 2004.

Edendale Technical High School is a public school in South Africa.

Zena Athene Stein was a South African epidemiologist, activist and doctor. She was professor of epidemiology and psychiatry at Columbia University.

Quarraisha Abdool Karim South African researcher

Quarraisha Abdool Karim, is an infectious diseases epidemiologist and co-founder and Associate Scientific Director of CAPRISA. She is Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York and Pro-Vice Chancellor for African Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The following is a timeline of the history of Pietermaritzburg. It is part of the Msunduzi Local Municipality in the Umgungundlovu District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

Sibongiseni Dhlomo South African politician

Sibongiseni Dhlomo is a South African politician for the African National Congress. Dhlomo is the current Deputy Minister of Health for the Republic of South Africa.

References

  1. ↑ British nurse kickstarts South Africa HIV charity (1 March 2010). Daily Mirror article. http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/developing-world-stories/2010/03/british-nurse-kickstarts-south.html
  2. ↑ A higher goal (24 April 2007). Mail & Guardian article. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/apr/24/voluntarysector
  3. ↑ Shishana et al (2009). "South African national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour and communication survey, 2008". http://www.hsrcpress.ac.za/product.php?productid=2279
  4. ↑ South African Department of Health (2009). "2008 National Antenatal Sentinel HIV and Syphilis Prevalence Survey". http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/reports/2009/nassps/index.html
  5. ↑ Health KwaZulu-Natal. "Edendale Newsletter April–July 2010". http://www.kznhealth.gov.za/edendale/edendaily18.pdf
  6. ↑ Football Foundation - Featured strategic partners. http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/about-us/our-strategic-partners/whizz-kids/ Accessed 17 September 2010
  7. ↑ WhizzKids United Sexual Health Programme. Charlton Athletic website. Accessed 17 September 2010. http://www.cact.org.uk/newsitem.php?id=318
  8. ↑ Football Foundation Onside Newsletter - Issue 25, page 7. http://www.footballfoundation.org.uk/digitalpublications/onside/issue25/index.html
  9. ↑ Africaid opens Health Academy for KZN teens. (3 June 2010) South Africa - the Good News http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/world_cup_legacy/africaid_opens_health_academy_for_kzn_teens.html
  10. ↑ Farrar, Thomas. Levelling the Playing Field: WhizzKids United promoting gender equality. (26 February 2010) Gender and Media Diversity Journal, 8th ed. ISBN   978-1-920550-41-7. http://www.genderlinks.org.za/article/levelling-the-playing-field-whizzkids-united-promoting-gender-equality-2010-03-03
  11. ↑ Streetfootballworld Website - All Members - Africaid. http://www.streetfootballworld.org/network/all-nwm/africaid. Accessed 17 September 2010
  12. ↑ Football for Hope Festival 2010 - African Delegations. . Accessed 17 September 2010
  13. ↑ Life, on the Soccer Field. Harvard Magazine Online, 19 August 2010. http://harvardmagazine.com/extras/life-on-the-soccer-field
  14. ↑ WhizzKids United: From HIV Vaccine Development to Soccer. http://www.ragoninstitute.org/newsletter/vol_2/newsletter_vol_2.htm#whizzkid. Accessed 30 September 2010
  15. ↑ Global Sports Forum Barcelona Trophies 2010. http://www.globalsportsforum.org/index.aspx?news=1370. Accessed 17 September 2010
  16. ↑ Message of Support by Mr. Wilfried Lemke. http://www.whizzkidsunited.org/downloads_content/2012-03-28_Renewed%20Message%20of%20Support_WhizzKids%20United.pdf. Accessed 5 April 2012
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.