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Coaches Across Continents: Perspective in Kinshasa
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Coaches Across Continents board member and volunteer, Jamie Reilly, blogs about his last of seven weeks 'on-field' with Menelik in Kinshasa, DRC.

Lawyers and soldiers; men and women; four year olds and 50 year olds. The diversity of the programme participants during our week in Kinshasa was unlike any other during my seven weeks on-field with Coaches Across Continents. Given the scale and scope of challenges facing the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, it makes sense that such a broad cross section of people would come together to find new ways to bring positive change to their communities.

DRC has been the host of one of the longest and bloodiest wars since World War II, claiming over five million lives between 1998 and 2003. While the loss of life is tragic, the lingering trauma of the civil war continues to destabilise the lives of tens of millions more throughout the country as it struggles to move forward.

Our partner, The Menelik Partnership for Education, was created to help bring resources and support to the most vulnerable populations in DRC. They support schools, run orphanages, provide access to legal representation, IT training, language lessons – the list goes on – in communities throughout the DRC. Sports, and football in particular, are a key part of their efforts to change mind-sets and help stop violence and discrimination against men, women, children and especially young girls.

Throughout the week we gathered in the schoolyard of the Ecole St. Georges where Menelik has its Kinshasa office and introduced this varied group of about 50 participants to using sport for social impact. The CAC curriculum challenged the group to work together in new ways. There was no lack of enthusiasm for any of the games and activities, but at times this enthusiasm prevented participants from taking time to really understand the full scope of the activity or task. In classroom discussions, participants noted how the CAC activities – especially those focused on problem solving and conflict resolution – will help them develop better listening skills and to fully think through challenges to create the kind of future they want for DRC.




[This article has been edited by the Operating Team]

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Africa
Sport
Football (Soccer)