Dear fellow Hanoverians:
I was so struck by the below letter from Hanover High School
Class of 2010 member Kate Nolan that I have decided to print it in its
entirety. In the meantime, please know that “Play Soccer So They
Can: Hanover” will take place this Saturday, June 19th, beginning
at 11:00 a.m. at Myrtle Field in Hanover. Throughout
the day there will be soccer games involving members of the soccer community as
well as fans of the game. Players will pay $5 to play. If you want
to play, you can either contact Kate Nolan at knolan_24@yahoo.com in advance, or just
show up as there will be pickup games throughout the day. Baked goods and
drinks will be sold. These and any other donations will go directly to OA
Projects! What’s OA Projects? For more information,
read on and/or please contact Kate at knolan_24@yahoo.com
.
“There
is no more powerful a tool for reconciliation, for youth, than a game of
soccer.”
–
Lt. General Romeo Dallaire (Canadian Senator and Former UN General in Rwanda)
____________________________ __________________________________________________________
Background Story: To
me, community service and community projects bring together people of different
backgrounds that share one commonality, which is the passion of helping others.
In today’s world, there is truly nothing more rewarding than helping
someone in need. Whenever I hear of a charity, a fundraiser or any cause, I
immediately want to help and do what I can. However, when I heard and read
about the organization of “OA Projects”, something beyond my
initial reaction occurred, I felt something more.
What is OA?:
“OA Projects, (OA =3D Opportunitas Aequa, Latin for “Equal
Opportunity”) is a grassroots organization that uses soccer to build
stronger communities for war-affected youth. OA’s objective is to
increase opportunities for youth in war-affected regions to participate in
soccer-based community building activities. The main purpose is to bring people
together to play soccer so that war-affected children and youth can too”
(www.OAProjects.org ). Upon researching
this organization I found this project to be a collaborative effort to not only
raise awareness but also incorporate the game of soccer in an extraordinary
way. As the president of Student Council I have been exposed to many
fundraising activities that all have meant something, but to be able to raise
money to help the youth of another country, my peers even, would be something
more. That’s when I got to planning my own event in the town of Hanover.
My Mission:
“Play Soccer So They Can: Hanover” would not only bring together the
town but also raise awareness about the impact of armed conflict on youth and
the efforts made by those affected to build a better future for their
community. Being able to bring a worldwide cause to our neighborhood would be a
dream come true. The idea would be to bring together local soccer teams, or
soccer fans to play during the day while raising awareness at the same time.
While bringing together families, clubs, and other different soccer
organizations, money would be raised and would go straight to OA Projects and
directly to building future soccer camps in Uganda. A simple donation of $2 can
plant a tree in one of the soccer camps. A donation of $25 can even send a
member of the youth to a 5-day soccer camp. A donation that small from one of
our pockets, brings hope to a teenager with a love for the simple game of
soccer. This event would enhance the lives of teenage youth, improve their
surroundings, and offer happiness to those who need it, all with a little help
from our small town.
For "Around Town on the Web",
Cathy H-B
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