MALARIA
Grassroot Soccer is proud to work with various partners around the world to use soccer as a tool to help end malaria.
The Need
Our Role
Grassroot Soccer teamed up with the ExxonMobil Foundation in 2011 to develop a soccer-based malaria prevention curriculum to be implemented by local organizations in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, and Tanzania. The program has been hugely successful due largely to the strength of our local partners and a passion for soccer among youth in these countries.
Grassroot Soccer provides technical support through curriculum development, training, organizational capacity development, and program design. Our local partners work with ExxonMobil’s local affiliates and governments to provide activity-based educational programs in schools and at soccer pitches in areas that are heavily affected by malaria.
As a result of the success of the ExxonMobil-supported malaria projects, GRS is also now partnering with Peace Corps to integrate soccer-based malaria prevention activities into the Stomp Out Malaria program delivered in 22 countries in Africa by Peace Corps volunteers and local partners.
GRS Approach
Prevention
Grassroot Soccer’s locally-tailored curriculum provides interactive lessons about malaria, how it is spread, how to prevent it, and the importance of treatment. Our curriculum focuses on filling key gaps in knowledge and helps motivate adolescents to do their part to prevent and treat malaria in their homes. GRS partners also distribute bed nets and teach about proper use and treatment.
Testing
Community mobilization events, often with a soccer tournament component, provide access to free malaria testing.
Treatment
Our partners provide malaria medication to those who need it, and teach participants about the importance of adhering to a full cycle of medication.
Our Impact
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77,000 young people
were provided comprehensive malaria prevention education
-
20% improvement
in general malaria knowledge
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18,000+ mosquito nets
were distributed to SKILLZ participants and community members
-
32% improvement
in knowledge of malaria treatment adherence
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4,972 SKILLZ
participants and community members tested for malaria
-
22% improvement
in knowledge about bed net maintenance