Grassroot Soccer co-founder on CNN

Co-founder of Grassroot Soccer, Ethan Zohn, was interviewed this month by CNN as he wrapped up his recent HIV awareness campaign, a soccer ball dribble from Boston to Washington, DC. Grassroot Soccer continues to expand programs and train new NGO partners in HIV/AIDS prevention education throughout Africa, as well as supporting our Futbol para la Vida program in the Dominican Republic through sharing their curriculum and with joint fundraising opportunities.

For more on this recent interview with Ethan, check out the CNN video clip below.

UVM Alum's Video on Grassroot Soccer Featured on YouTube

Lusaka Sunrise, a video about the Grassroot Soccer HIV/AIDS prevention education program in Africa, was a "Featured Video" on YouTube this week. The short was filmed and produced by Silas Hagerty, founder of Smooth Feather Productions and former student of a University of Vermont travel-study course to Batey Libertad.

The Fútbol para la Vida program at Batey Libertad, Saman, and other partner communities in the Dominican Republic is part of the international Grassroot Soccer network. The first GRS-inspired film produced by Silas and 'lil Jon Erickson entitled Freedom for a Day highlighted the university's pilot project of the GRS curriculum with the community of Batey Libertad.

Below please enjoy both Lusaka Sunrise and Freedom for a Day below. Congratulations Silas!

Lusaka Sunrise


Freedom for a Day

FPV Ambassador Emmanuel Sanon

Futbol para la Vida ambassador Emmanuel "Manno" Sanon passed away today in Orlando after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Manno was born on June 25th, 1951 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, son of Darius Sanon, from Jacmel, and Cherisna Fortune Sanon, from Kenscoff. A schoolboy football sensation at Don Bosco, he made his debut for the Haitian national team at 18 years old in the 1970 World Cup qualifying, and his goal scoring exploits over the next decade left him as Haiti's career top goal scorer. He had a successful international career in Europe and the USA where he played against the top football stars of the day.

Manno's goals in the 1973 CONCACAF tournament helped Haiti become the first Caribbean nation to qualify for a FIFA World Cup. At the 1974 World Cup in West Germany Manno scored goals against Italy and Argentina, with the first goal voted as the goal of the tournament. His goal against Italy was well remembered and replayed frequently during the festivities at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and France Football named him as one of the Top 100 World Cup players. His autobiography "Toup Pou Yo" recorded the 1974 World Cup from a personal angle, and he was named the Haitian Athlete of the Century in 1999.

After retirement in 1983, Manno coached youth teams in San Diego, Texas, and Orlando, as well as the senior Haitian national team. He started the Foundation Emmanuel Sanon FONDESA, dedicated to empowering young people to reach their potential by supporting community-based programs promoting health, education, and welfare. He also worked with other international humanitarian organizations, most recently visiting Haitian bateyes in the Dominican Republic in late 2007 with Futbol para la Vida, an HIV/AIDS prevention education program of the international Grassroot Soccer network.

Emmanuel Sanon is survived by his wife and four children. In lieu of flowers, donations should be sent to FONDESA at mannosanon@aol.com.

Obituaries can be found at:

Sports Illustrated
USA Today
Miami Herald
Charleston Daily Mail
Fox Sports

Grassroot Soccer introduced in St. Lucia

Over the January '08 winter break, a group of University of Vermont students traveled to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia as part of a class on Sustainable Development in Small Island States led by Charles Kerchner. One of the service-learning projects that evolved was the demonstration of the Grassroot Soccer curriculum on HIV/AIDS prevention education at local schools and to representatives of public education on the island.

The group was following the lead of other UVM students who have been behind the creation of the Grassroot Soccer inspired Futbol para la Vida program in the Dominican Republic. The demo and discussions were a huge success, and plans are in the works for a follow-up training-of-trainers of peer educators through a local youth sport initiative.

For some local press coverage of the trip, see Caribseek and the island's cable news network.

Congratulations to all the students and local supporters involved!