The Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI) is organising a week-long holiday camp for young people between ages 11 and 18. Sponsored by ExxonMobil and Mac AIDS Fund, the programme is aimed to provide a safe and meaningful experience for young people in three states who would otherwise have little or nothing to do during this holiday. The programme holds August 3 – September 4 at camp locations in Lagos, Ogun and Akwa Ibom states.

A statement by the organisers said: “Tagged Skillz Football Holiday Camp, the participants will experience a series of exciting activities that will engage them for the whole day which will be handled by trained volunteers who will serve as coaches. Some of the activities are Skillz Station (where trained soccer coordinators will facilitate football drills and energisers designed to engage participants in physical activity and prepare them for the day’s activities) and Skillz Practices (where participants will be taught by Peer Educators the skills needed to protect themselves from HIV and malaria using soccer demonstrations). Other camp activities include Opening Circle, Hand wash practice, and fair-play soccer. Football professionals will also be available at the camps to coach participants on football skills. The final day of the camp features a graduation ceremony that involves football tournament, award of prizes and celebration of outstanding participants with parents and community members present.”

The statement said that this year’s programme would feature two different grassroots soccer curricula namely: the Skillz Naija and the Skillz Girl Naija.

It explained: “The Skillz Naija Curriculum is a comprehensive Peer educator-guide manual that teaches children about malaria and HIV prevention as well as building basic life skills that help children between the ages of 11-16 adopt healthy behaviours and live risk free by creating a simple but powerful connection between soccer and life skills. The Skillz Girl Naija Curriculum features a girl-targeted intervention that uses the power of soccer to educate young girls of ages 13-19 on sexuality and life skills, empowering them with basic information to make healthy choices about their sexual and reproductive health including HIV prevention.

“The camp runs for eight hours per day over five days. The participants will be provided with two healthy meals (breakfast and lunch) with plenty of water to ensure they stay energised and hydrated throughout the day.”

•Photo shows Skillz Naija practice in session.

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