FACT SHEET: Displaced Children and Orphans Fund

The CORE Initiative is working with Right to Play (RTP) and Grassroot Soccer (GRS) to implement a worldwide sport for social change program. Funded through an Associate Award from the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF) at the United States Agency for International Development, this project is designed to develop appropriate strategies to address HIV/AIDS, resiliency, and other development issues through sport. Programs are targeted at vulnerable children and youth, with a special focus on orphans, former child combatants, coaches, teachers, and other adult community mentors.

The CORE Initiative works through CARE country offices to link RTP and GRS with other in-country nongovernmental organizations and local partner networks in order to build local support and ensure sustainability. The CORE Initiative is also providing capacity-building support to RTP in program design, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and USAID rules and regulations. This support has allowed RTP to strengthen its technical knowledge in HIV/AIDS and M&E and build a strong foundation for implementing activities in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. As a result, RTP has strengthened its monitoring of implementing partners, improved the design of its HIV/AIDS and sport curriculum, and enhanced the long-term sustainability of its country programs.

Through the DCOF Associate Award, GRS and RTP are currently implementing activities in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Zambia, and South Africa. Programs first started in Rwanda and Sierra Leone and accomplishments to date include:

• Development of an HIV/AIDS and sport curriculum for use in schools and with community coaches
• Creation of Anti-AIDS Clubs and training for club leaders
• Establishment of partnerships with local organizations to implement HIV/AIDS and sport activities
• HIV/AIDS awareness activities, including the development of Athlete Ambassadors – wellknown local athletes who promote HIV/AIDS awareness
• Training local evaluators to play a role in evaluating and mentoring clubs and in planning for trainings, resulting in a greater sense of project ownership.

Grassroot Soccer is an athlete-driven, international humanitarian organization with a mission to mobilize the global soccer community to address HIV/AIDS through a multifaceted sport for development model. GRS believes that soccer is an integral part of communities around the world and is determined to utilize the sport’s popularity to increase HIV awareness and promote healthy behavior.

Right To Play is also an athlete-driven, international humanitarian organization whose goal is to enhance development through sport and play, including the development of healthy and HIV-preventative behaviors. RTP promotes every child's right to play, which it defines as physical activity that promotes fun, participation, and confidence building. Its sport and play programs target children and youth living in disadvantaged situations.

Contact Information:
Wayne Lifshitz, Project Manager, DCOF/AA
CORE Initiative
888 17th Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, D.C. 20006
tel: 202-861-2673
Email: wlifshitz@coreinitiative.org

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