On Friday (18th October 2010) WhizzKids United will be launching a new initiative called the WKU Mixed Gender Football League. The project is funded by NIKE RED and administered by the King Baudouin Foundation. The purpose of this project is to implement a mixed genders football league at our Health Academy involving eight primary schools in the area and  to increase boys and girls awareness of and their interest in the Health Academy.

Nkosinathi Mbanjwa (one of our Edendale Life Skills trainers) is the the League Administrator. Each of the eight primary schools will contribute one team to the league.  Each school's team will consist of four girls and four boys from Grade 6. No Grade 7's can participate because the league will be continuing into 2011. Benefits for the schools include: children's participation in Life Skills training, a framed certificate at the end of the season for participating in the league, coloured WhizzKids United posters to display in the school, photographs of their team, at least two footballs to use for their teams training, opportunity to win one of three trophies, school teams will receive a free football kit and a great opportunity to play football.  This is an ideal opportunity for schools to build up spirit and pride as well as promote gender equality and battle stereotypes against girls playing football.

At WKU we have three new staff members that are joining us to keep up our good work! The two in Durban are Charmaine (through Australian Volunteers International) and Nancy are on the Marketing team and one in Pietermaritzburg, Gugu Mofukeng, at the Healthy Academy.

Now that they are here, they are able to go on every day working very hard to keep up the good work, because we were short staff in last couple of weeks. Two of our office staff left, long-term volunteer Oliver Walsh as Marketing Director and Brian Suskiewicz, from Coaches Across Continents, as a professional soccer coach. Many thanks to them for committing themselves to WhizzKids United and their work in ‘Delivering excellence in HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment and support to youth worldwide through the medium of football’.

We are working hard to build a safer environment for children across South Africa through our unique programme: Life skills, Peer Education and Whizzkids United Healthy Academy. We are hopeful that by the end of this year we will have achieved more of our goals with the addition of our new staff members.

It has been very exciting period for every one . I am talking about world cup soccer matches, schools were closed and everyone was in the mood for soccer. Watching games live “unbelievable hey” it was the first time for me to watch big teams live, normally I am used to see them on TV. It is because of WhizzKids United which I am working for as an Office Apprentice. They have been so wonderful; we were given tickets to watch the matches as staff as well as kids who were coming from the schools which we are working with.

I believe that the World Cup has created more opportunity for us to be well known by other people and organisations because we are working with kids. We are hoping that we can change the world. If you believe that you can does something do it. Hopefully every thing will go on as normal and kids are back at schools and visitors are on their way back home. I will like to thank the WhizzKids staff from CEO to the trainers; they have been working very hard to make this successful and happy ending for every one. Also thank you to those volunteers who came to spend their time with us!

When I found out about my status, it was so difficult. I could not face my family; it was like I am already dead. But with people around me, they made me see the world and life in a different way. Finding that I’m HIV positive changed my life, my mom was so worried. But she was the one who made me believe that I can still live again. She helps me to start my medication; she takes me to different hospitals while she was earning nothing. Life can change in seconds. Starting my medication was difficult for me because I couldn’t swallow anything, my throat was very bad by that time. Every morning she had to wake up and crush my tablets with something and add some water so that I can drink. She takes me to bath because I couldn`t do anything. And as well I find out I had TB, which make its worse because I had to take both medication TB and ARVS. That was so difficult for me, but I just told myself that I want to have a life again. My children were also worried that they will lose their mother. But with the love of people around me I’m here getting better every day. I am still on my treatment and I am feeling very well. I just need to start over with my life.
I am so glad that there are people like Marcus who do not give up. Being with WhizzKids United I learn a lot, it’s really changed so much in my life, the support they were giving me. I would like to thank them, that`s why I like to work with them again. They make me a better person, the skills are wonderful.
To young and old people, I will say if you are negative keep it like that don`t let anyone change your status. And those who are positive changing your life style is a good idea. Those who don’t know their status are walking in the dark. It is better to know, so that if you are positive you can start your treatment early. Knowing that you are positive, it is not the end of your life. You can still live the life you want to live. Knowing your status is the right thing to do. All young people, you need to know your status. Life is a wonderful gift from God so live life to the fullest. I will always thank God with everything he has done for me. Let us build a better world. Be faithful to your partner, I almost lost my life because my boyfriend was not faithful to me. I am not worried anymore. Do not let other people bring you down. Going for counselling classes can help, you can live without being worried. Know your goals in life, be motivated, stop spreading HIV. So try to prevent it, without good people there is nothing we can do.
I am feeling better, and I will take my treatment in the right way because i don`t want to get sick again. It is not nice to live with HIV but if you follow all the instructions you can live well. You will be able to stand in front of my people and tell them about what it`s like to live with HIV.
You can find out more about me in my profile