Dear fellow Hanoverians:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I was so struck by the below letter from Hanover High School
\nClass of 2010 member Kate Nolan that I have decided to print it in its
\nentirety. In the meantime, please know that “Play Soccer So They
\nCan: Hanover” will take place this Saturday, June 19th, beginning
\nat 11:00 a.m. at Myrtle Field in Hanover. Throughout
\nthe day there will be soccer games involving members of the soccer community as
\nwell as fans of the game. Players will pay $5 to play. If you want
\nto play, you can either contact Kate Nolan at knolan_24@yahoo.com in advance, or just
\nshow up as there will be pickup games throughout the day. Baked goods and
\ndrinks will be sold. These and any other donations will go directly to OA
\nProjects! What’s OA Projects? For more information,
\nread on and\/or please contact Kate at knolan_24@yahoo.com
\n.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“There
\nis no more powerful a tool for reconciliation, for youth, than a game of
\nsoccer.”<\/p>\n
–
\nLt. General Romeo Dallaire (Canadian Senator and Former UN General in Rwanda)<\/p>\n
____________________________ __________________________________________________________ <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Background Story: To
\nme, community service and community projects bring together people of different
\nbackgrounds that share one commonality, which is the passion of helping others.
\nIn today’s world, there is truly nothing more rewarding than helping
\nsomeone in need. Whenever I hear of a charity, a fundraiser or any cause, I
\nimmediately want to help and do what I can. However, when I heard and read
\nabout the organization of “OA Projects”, something beyond my
\ninitial reaction occurred, I felt something more. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What is OA?:
\n“OA Projects, (OA =3D Opportunitas Aequa, Latin for “Equal
\nOpportunity”) is a grassroots organization that uses soccer to build
\nstronger communities for war-affected youth. OA’s objective is to
\nincrease opportunities for youth in war-affected regions to participate in
\nsoccer-based community building activities. The main purpose is to bring people
\ntogether to play soccer so that war-affected children and youth can too”
\n(www.OAProjects.org ). Upon researching
\nthis organization I found this project to be a collaborative effort to not only
\nraise awareness but also incorporate the game of soccer in an extraordinary
\nway. As the president of Student Council I have been exposed to many
\nfundraising activities that all have meant something, but to be able to raise
\nmoney to help the youth of another country, my peers even, would be something
\nmore. That’s when I got to planning my own event in the town of Hanover.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
My Mission:
\n“Play Soccer So They Can: Hanover” would not only bring together the
\ntown but also raise awareness about the impact of armed conflict on youth and
\nthe efforts made by those affected to build a better future for their
\ncommunity. Being able to bring a worldwide cause to our neighborhood would be a
\ndream come true. The idea would be to bring together local soccer teams, or
\nsoccer fans to play during the day while raising awareness at the same time.
\nWhile bringing together families, clubs, and other different soccer
\norganizations, money would be raised and would go straight to OA Projects and
\ndirectly to building future soccer camps in Uganda. A simple donation of $2 can
\nplant a tree in one of the soccer camps. A donation of $25 can even send a
\nmember of the youth to a 5-day soccer camp. A donation that small from one of
\nour pockets, brings hope to a teenager with a love for the simple game of
\nsoccer. This event would enhance the lives of teenage youth, improve their
\nsurroundings, and offer happiness to those who need it, all with a little help
\nfrom our small town. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For "Around Town on the Web",<\/p>\n
Cathy H-B<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
"Around Town on the Web" is a community service
\nthat has been provided to self-selected residents of the Town of Hanover since
\nthe spring of 2004. If someone forwarded this message to you and you
\nwould like to receive these communications directly, please e-mail your first
\nand last name and e-mail address to cathyhb@atotw.com . If you would like to be
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\n. For submission guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions
\nabout "ATOTW", please go to www.atotw.com . To search for
\narchived "ATOTW" news, just go to https:\/\/atotw.com\/archive .<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading