Teaching Kids About Health Through Games

by Ricardo Rodrigues, Right To Play Mozambique Project Coordinator

“What should we do about the mosquitoes that are spreading HIV all over the country?” asked a young boy from a rural area of Mozambique. It was the first day of the HIV/AIDS Training Course in an area where people are frequently misinformed about the topic and are in urgent need of valid information. Many others, who were also anxiously awaiting my answer, surrounded the young boy.

But how could I tell them in way they could understand? More importantly, how could I make sure they would be able to properly teach others in their communities about HIV and AIDS? One answer is to use what Right To Play believes to be a fundamental force in changing people’s lives: sports, games and play. I spent almost two weeks using games that contained constructive messages about HIV/AIDS. By using traditional games they already knew, the children happily learned all about HIV/AIDS prevention, its impact on the body, the discrimination and stigmatization people with the disease encounter, and many other important messages.  

A Visit to Laine Refugee Camp in Guinea

by Sean Neeb, Right To Play Senior Program Officer

While on a trip to the field to visit the SportWorks Refugee project in Guinea, I stumbled on an incredible story that reinforces the importance and impact of the work Right To Play is doing, and highlights the dedication and perseverance of the Local Coaches that our Project Coordinators train in enhancing community sport and play projects.

I was visiting a relatively new refugee camp in Guinea, called Laine. Laine was established in September 2002 to deal with the Liberian refugee influx as a result of the civil unrest in Cote D’Ivoire; many of the refugees came from Danane where Right To Play had been implementing a project prior to the unrest.

Manchester United's Carlos Queiroz Shines at Mozambique's Immunization Campaign

Mozambique, June 2005 - Manchester United's Assistant Manager Carlos Queiroz recently traveled to Mozambique to promote the country's National Measles & Polio Immunization Campaign. "Every child has the right to health, and I am very happy to be able to support this campaign to protect young lives," said Mozambique-born Carlos.

Arriving in the capital, Carlos drew great media attention and expertly explained the importance of immunization and the need to protect Mozambican children. He linked the relationship between health and sports, and spoke of the upcoming soccer tournament in his home-town of Nampula, organized by Right To Play, and designed to mobilize children and youth around the campaign and help drive vaccinations.