"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - LAO TZU
I have a large backpack of my own gear and a massive duffel stuffed to the brim with pens, pencils, goalkeeper gloves and jerseys, plus shorts and socks all courtesy of the 2009 Dynasty Goalkeeping students! I only wish I could lug more over to donate. Let the adventure begin! Out of my comfort zone, far from the land of plenty, and into Africa I go!
Actually the next stop is Washington DC, then Rome, then Addis Ababa, and finally Dar Es Salaam, TANZANIA! A few good books, my snacks (I never leave home without my snacks!) and an iPod will hopefully get me through the next 24+ hours of flying. Going there actually probably won’t be that bad however as there is always anticipation that gets you through. And after months of pre-trip planning I have plenty of anticipation and excitement stored up.
Once I arrive in Dar my first ‘challenge’ will be linking up with fellow volunteer Brian Suskiewicz, whom I have never met. Doubt he will have any problem finding the white girl with blonde hair. I will stick out like a sore thumb. We will spend a night in Dar recovering and the following day we plan to fly to Kigoma where will start volunteering on the 30th. We will be running sessions with teachers in the morning and then in the afternoons we will go to various schools around Kigoma to work with children. I have been told that all of the teachers will speak English, so communication with them won’t be an issue. The children on the other hand most likely won’t speak English, with the exception of a few words and phrases, so I have been studying some Swahili to learn a few words and numbers to help make communicating with them a bit easier. I’m sure I will slaughter their language, but at a minimum it will make them laugh! The bottom line is that if I just coach the way I do here; showing the activities with passion, energy, smiles, and laughter then the message will get across.
In addition to our work in Kigoma we just found out that we will be traveling north to an area called Geita to work with teachers and children in that area as well. Geita is close to Lake Victoria and is known for their gold mines. While it will be Coaches Across Continents third year working in Kigoma, it will be our first in Geita, so we have no idea what to expect. It is great that the local coordinator in Kigoma, Nico Pota, will be extending our reach in the short time we will be there.
It is impossible to fathom what I will encounter, but everyone I have spoken with that has been to Africa has said the EXACT same thing, “It will change you and you will love it.” So I am heading over ready to take in everything that this experience has to offer and eager to do what I can for the teachers and students of Kigoma.
Recently I did an interview about my upcoming trip (keep an eye out for it on the UNC women’s soccer website next week http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/w-soccer/unc-w-soccer-body.html ). The reporter asked me, "What do you hope to accomplish?”. Hmmm…I thought, good question. It made me stop and reflect on the purpose of my trip, which I found to be a very valuable exercise so that I head out in a good frame of mind and a clear purpose.
I am not so daft as to expect that I am going to change the lives of these children in 2 shorts weeks. So why go at all then? Well, first I think it is important to focus on the little things that can be accomplished in 2 weeks. If I can help make a child smile, laugh, and bring joy and hope into their extremely difficult daily existence, then I will have succeeded. If I can help show a teacher a new method of coaching from a positive, encouraging point of view versus a harsh, fear based, militaristic style, then I will have succeeded. Those are things I am fully capable of achieving.
On a grander scale though, I hope to raise awareness and connect people here in the United States more intimately with the problems in Africa. I will be the first to admit that I allow myself to become disconnected with the global community. It is so easy to get caught up in our daily lives and sucked into our routine and the daily grind, the rat race of life, here in the U.S. that our circle of influence becomes very small. We know that there are lots of problems in Africa....AIDS, malnutrition, poverty, political instability, genocide....but it is a continent away. We feel we can't do anything to help, and we are quite honestly happily disconnected from it and too busy with our own lives to do anything. That has been me. That is until I read an article in the UNC Alumni Review probably 5+ years ago. The article was about Carolina For Kibera, an organization founded by UNC alumni, Rye Barcott. It was such an impressive undertaking to me on many levels. The article described the despicable, unsanitary, harsh conditions in the worst slum of Kenya and the soccer program CFK developed to help teach the youth in the community, bring hope and change, as well as the establishing a medical clinic and an educational center. One of UNC’s former soccer players, Laura Winslow, was mentioned in the article for her involvement and volunteering in Kibera. So that is how I first became 'connected' to some of the issues in Africa. Over the years I have donated gear (balls, sports bras, cleats) and money to CFK to feel like (as most of us I think do) we are helping and 'doing our part'. Of course this is very valuable and critical to the sustainability of not-for-profit organizations, as certainly not everyone can volunteer their time. In the back of my mind though, after reading about Laura's experience, I thought it would be an amazing experience to travel over there to do the same thing. A very tiny seed had been planted. However, there was always something going on in my life (we ALL have things going on in our lives and always will) that made it unfeasible for me to even consider finding out what volunteering would even entail, let alone actually take steps towards committing towards it. It simply was not a priority.
Fast forward a few years to 2007... I reconnected with CaC founder Nick Gates after his first trip through Africa. He had just come back from a year long trip and was brainstorming the creation of Coaches Across Continents. In speaking with him in person, seeing his photos, videos, and feeling the passion in his voice everything became tangible to me. In the subsequent years I watched as fellow teammates of mine (Lorrie Fair, Cindy Parlow, and Anna Rodenbough) became involved with various organizations to volunteer in various countries around Africa. Goalkeeper students of mine were volunteering in India and Africa. Momentum was building inside of me to act. The tiny seed that had been planted in me was starting grow. Then once Nick got CaC off the ground it all became possible. I was connected to a program and it was palpable. Once that link was made I was compelled to help. Instead of Africa being a world away and not my problem, an internal switch had been hit. All of the reasons and excuses I previously had for not getting involved dissipated and were replaced with one thought, "how can I not act". It is such a small sliver of time, a blink of an eye; it is the LEAST I can do.
I think most Americans, (actually most humans) want to help -- whatever the cause may be, here locally or a continent away in Africa. It is our nature as human beings to help, yet somehow we still flounder. I believe that laying the groundwork and being given the platform to become involved is the critical link to action. Once shown how we can help and given a path, everyone is eager to participate. All we need is direction.
So what do I hope to accomplish? I want to raise awareness to get more people like myself involved. Had it not been for Nick and CaC I would not have had the platform on which to act. He provided the impetus to get me rolling and for that I am grateful. Getting people SPECIFICALLY connected to an issue and a program is a big part. So while I certainly hope to make an impact on the teachers, coaches, and children I interact with during the short time I am in Tanzania, I am realistic. My time there is limited and there is only so much that can be accomplished in a short time. The challenges are great and the issues many. The more lasting effect I hope to have is drawing more people into the circle and encouraging more people to act. Getting more people to flip the switch like I have is my hope. That is what Nick and many others provided for me, so if I can pay that forward then I will feel as if I have made a difference.
Lastly, it is not too late to donate to this great cause. I am just short of hitting my pre-trip fundraising goal of $6600. If you haven’t already donated perhaps you will consider jumping on board at this time to help me reach my target? Every bit helps, so THANKS! You can pay with a check or even easier through the secure First Giving website www.firstgiving.com/tracynoonan with a credit card. Also, as mentioned in my previous blog entry, a private foundation has committed to matching all donations that end in the amount of ‘27’ up to the amount of $27,000! So by donating with an amount that ends in $27 ($27, $127, $1027, etc) your money will count twice! How cool is that!?!? To find out more about the CaC Matching Donation Program go to: http://sportingcommunities.edwardswan.com/?p=2267
Remember your investment CHANGES LIVES!
Tracy
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Countdown to Tanzania – 80 Days
It has been a few months since my last post so I wanted to catch you up on my pre-trip planning for Tanzania. No I haven’t gone yet! In case you forgot my trip is not until late August into September. There is a lot to do and plan as getting to Africa is no small task. Since there is no trip coordinator, no travel agent, and no pre-trip planning handbook I have spent a lot of time on the internet investigating and learning. Fortunately, I have had several months to gradually chip away at it all. I’ve also been calling and emailing lots of friends who have gone to Africa to get as much insight as possible.
Christian Aviza – Coaches Across Continents volunteer who spent last summer working in Kigoma, Tanzania where I will be (as well as other locations)
Lorrie Fair – UNC ’96-99, US-WNT - http://www.thekickabout.org/
Ashley Riggs – UNC ’91-95 - Summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Anna Rodenbough – UNC ’05-’08 - http://www.africa2010orbust.blogspot.com/
Sonja Trojak France – UNC ’92-‘95 - visited Kibera slums in Kenya
See the Tarheel connection?!?! Lorrie and Anna are actually both in Africa as we speak. So check out their blogs! They are both doing amazing work all over Africa and I am learning a TON from their adventures.
MEDICAL PREP - Malaria is just one of the many health risks with traveling to Africa. There are plenty of other diseases, parasites, bacteria, etc to be aware of. It’s been quite a while since I have been immunized thus I had a lot of catching up to do. There is a long list of health concerns when traveling to Tanzania, so I chose to immunize against the ones that I felt had the highest risk: Yellow Fever, typhoid, Hepatitis A&B, meningitis, and an adult polio booster. In addition I will be taking anti-malaria drugs and have an anti-diarrheal on hand should I have that issue. From what I have been told apparently no matter how careful you are about not drinking the water, not using ice, and not eating fruit or veggies washed in the water it is still hard to avoid nasty bouts of diarrhea. Surprisingly the UNC Travel Clinic allowed me to get all my shots in one day! Certainly more convenient, but I would have expected that they would have recommended spacing out the shots so as not to overwhelm my immune system?!?! Instead I left feeling much like a pincushion.
In the process of investigating about the health risks and getting immunized I learned some staggering and shocking facts on the diseases:
FLIGHTS - Getting to Africa is not like flying cross country or even to Europe for that matter. I spent hours and days investigating various flights, routes, and costs on Orbitz, Priceline, Expedia, and Kayak. I tried every possible combination of airlines and routes to keep costs as low as possible so more money can go to Coaches Across Continents. I finally settled on a flight(s) that has me traveling from Raleigh-Durham, NC to Washington DC, to Rome, Italy to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and FINALLY to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in a mere 27 hours! $1650 later my trip is booked via EthiopiaAir (shockingly that is the cheapest fare available 3+ months out from my travel date!) Problem is that only has me part of the way! Once I get to Dar I will still need to catch a flight from Dar, which is on the east coast of Tanzania, to Kigoma, where I will be volunteering, which is on the westernmost border of the country. Getting that flight booked has proven quite difficult as there aren’t many airlines/flight options in Tanzania. It is not like the US where there are multiple airlines, lots of choices, and airline agents you can call for assistance. Most Tanzanians cannot afford to fly, so there simply is no demand for the massive airline infrastructure like we have. Thus I am currently struggling to figure out a way to book the one flight fro Dar to Kigoma that I can find on Air Tanzania through an agent since the AirTanzania website, email, and phone don’t seem to be functioning. To quote Lorrie Fair,
“T-I-A (This is Africa!) You will see anything and everything and when you think you've seen it all, you will see something new.”
My camps start this Thursday, June 10th and run the next 7 weeks through to July 26th. It will be a busy summer and August 27th will be here before I know it. I am already feeling excited, apprehensive, anxious and nervous all at the same time. Several of you have asked me if I am still fundraising for the trip. Yes, I am! So far I have raised $2155, and, therefore, I am 32% of the way to my $6600 goal. A HUGE thank you to all who have donated, your generous donations will cover my flights (the inside Tanzania flight will likely run $400-500). Additional donations will go to cover my entrance fee into the country, lodging and food expenses (minimal), and supporting the Coaches Across Continents program in Kigoma where I will be working. If you are considering donating please understand that ANY amount will help, even $5! You can pay with a check or in even easier through the secure First Giving website www.firstgiving.com/tracynoonan with a credit card. It is quick and easy. Seriously, by forgoing one Mocha, one Caramel Frappuccino, one Vanilla Latte, a movie out, a bottle of wine, a new pair of shoes or outfit that you don’t really need, etc you could be making a difference in the life of a child in Africa. Your investment CHANGES LIVES!
I also want to tell you about another great fundraising program that Coaches Across Continents has just started. A private foundation has committed to matching all donations that end in the amount of ‘27’ up to the amount of $27,000! So by donating with an amount that ends in $27 ($27, $127, $1027, etc) your money will count twice! How cool is that!?!? To find out more about the CaC Matching Donation Program go to: http://sportingcommunities.edwardswan.com/?p=2267
• $127 buys a ball, pencil, shirt, and other program supplies for a child to participate in the program for three years.
• $527 enables a local teacher to participate in CaC’s train-the-trainer program where they learn skills to create a sustainable year-round program in their community.
• $1,027 supports a whole team of kids in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia or Haiti.
• $2,527 supports a CaC volunteer coach to work in Africa.
• $5,027 starts a new partnership between a local African NGO and CaC (we have a long waiting list).
• $10,027 becomes a founding investor in CaC and effect change throughout the world.
• $27,027 runs a full Hat-trick initiative for one year.
To end this blog I want to leave you with this quote that I read on Anna Rodenbough’s blog. It seemed to sum up my thoughts and hopes for this journey I am on better than I could.
“The magic of travel is that you leave your home secure in your own knowledge and identity, but as you travel, the world in all its richness intervenes. You meet people you could not invent; you see scenes you could not imagine. Your own world, which was so large as to consume your whole life, becomes smaller and smaller until it is only one tiny dot in space and time. You return a different person.
Many people don’t want to be travelers. They would rather be tourists, flitting over the surface of other peoples lives while never really leaving their own. They try to bring their world with them wherever they go, or try to recreate the world they left. They do not want to risk the security of their own understanding and see how small and limited their experiences really are.
If we don’t offer ourselves to the world, our senses dull. Our world becomes small, and we lose our sense of wonder. Our eyes don’t lift to the horizon; we don’t hear the sounds around us. The edge is off our experience and we pass our days in a routine that is both comfortable and limiting. We wake up one day and find that we have lost our dreams in order to protect our days.
Travel, no matter how humble, will etch new elements into your character. You will know the cutting moments of life where fear meets adventure and loneliness meets exhilaration. You will know what it means to push forward when you want to turn back. And when you have tragedies or great changes in your life, you will understand, that there are a thousand, a million ways to live, and that your life will go on to something new and different and every bit as worthy as the life you are leaving behind.” - Unknown
Tracy
Christian Aviza – Coaches Across Continents volunteer who spent last summer working in Kigoma, Tanzania where I will be (as well as other locations)
Lorrie Fair – UNC ’96-99, US-WNT - http://www.thekickabout.org/
Ashley Riggs – UNC ’91-95 - Summited Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Anna Rodenbough – UNC ’05-’08 - http://www.africa2010orbust.blogspot.com/
Sonja Trojak France – UNC ’92-‘95 - visited Kibera slums in Kenya
See the Tarheel connection?!?! Lorrie and Anna are actually both in Africa as we speak. So check out their blogs! They are both doing amazing work all over Africa and I am learning a TON from their adventures.
MEDICAL PREP - Malaria is just one of the many health risks with traveling to Africa. There are plenty of other diseases, parasites, bacteria, etc to be aware of. It’s been quite a while since I have been immunized thus I had a lot of catching up to do. There is a long list of health concerns when traveling to Tanzania, so I chose to immunize against the ones that I felt had the highest risk: Yellow Fever, typhoid, Hepatitis A&B, meningitis, and an adult polio booster. In addition I will be taking anti-malaria drugs and have an anti-diarrheal on hand should I have that issue. From what I have been told apparently no matter how careful you are about not drinking the water, not using ice, and not eating fruit or veggies washed in the water it is still hard to avoid nasty bouts of diarrhea. Surprisingly the UNC Travel Clinic allowed me to get all my shots in one day! Certainly more convenient, but I would have expected that they would have recommended spacing out the shots so as not to overwhelm my immune system?!?! Instead I left feeling much like a pincushion.
In the process of investigating about the health risks and getting immunized I learned some staggering and shocking facts on the diseases:
- HIV/AIDs is estimated to be present in 6% of the adult population of Tanzania, putting it in the top tier of all countries.
- Tuberculosis is common in all developing countries. However, Tanzania has a prevalence of over 100 cases per 100,000 population, the highest WHO (World Health Organization) risk category.
- The parasitic disease malaria is responsible for a staggering 1 million+ deaths per year. The majority are children under the age of five. A child dies every 30 seconds from malaria. This death rate can be DRASTICALLY reduced with the simple use of a $10 mosquito net, which many Africans do not have. Today, 90 per cent of malaria cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa. This would be why I will be traveling with my own mosquito net, using lots of bug spray, and taking my malaria drugs!
- Yellow fever, a viral disease that occurs primarily in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America, kills 30,000 each year. The virus is transmitted most often through the bite of the female Aedes aegypti mosquito. Once controlled fairly well by widespread vaccination and mosquito control, the disease is making a comeback and outbreaks are becoming more frequent.
- Measles, a viral respiratory infection, killed over 500,000 children in 2003, more than any other vaccine-preventable disease. The measles death toll in Africa is so high – every minute one child dies – that many mothers don't give children real names until they have survived the disease.
FLIGHTS - Getting to Africa is not like flying cross country or even to Europe for that matter. I spent hours and days investigating various flights, routes, and costs on Orbitz, Priceline, Expedia, and Kayak. I tried every possible combination of airlines and routes to keep costs as low as possible so more money can go to Coaches Across Continents. I finally settled on a flight(s) that has me traveling from Raleigh-Durham, NC to Washington DC, to Rome, Italy to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and FINALLY to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania in a mere 27 hours! $1650 later my trip is booked via EthiopiaAir (shockingly that is the cheapest fare available 3+ months out from my travel date!) Problem is that only has me part of the way! Once I get to Dar I will still need to catch a flight from Dar, which is on the east coast of Tanzania, to Kigoma, where I will be volunteering, which is on the westernmost border of the country. Getting that flight booked has proven quite difficult as there aren’t many airlines/flight options in Tanzania. It is not like the US where there are multiple airlines, lots of choices, and airline agents you can call for assistance. Most Tanzanians cannot afford to fly, so there simply is no demand for the massive airline infrastructure like we have. Thus I am currently struggling to figure out a way to book the one flight fro Dar to Kigoma that I can find on Air Tanzania through an agent since the AirTanzania website, email, and phone don’t seem to be functioning. To quote Lorrie Fair,
“T-I-A (This is Africa!) You will see anything and everything and when you think you've seen it all, you will see something new.”
My camps start this Thursday, June 10th and run the next 7 weeks through to July 26th. It will be a busy summer and August 27th will be here before I know it. I am already feeling excited, apprehensive, anxious and nervous all at the same time. Several of you have asked me if I am still fundraising for the trip. Yes, I am! So far I have raised $2155, and, therefore, I am 32% of the way to my $6600 goal. A HUGE thank you to all who have donated, your generous donations will cover my flights (the inside Tanzania flight will likely run $400-500). Additional donations will go to cover my entrance fee into the country, lodging and food expenses (minimal), and supporting the Coaches Across Continents program in Kigoma where I will be working. If you are considering donating please understand that ANY amount will help, even $5! You can pay with a check or in even easier through the secure First Giving website www.firstgiving.com/tracynoonan with a credit card. It is quick and easy. Seriously, by forgoing one Mocha, one Caramel Frappuccino, one Vanilla Latte, a movie out, a bottle of wine, a new pair of shoes or outfit that you don’t really need, etc you could be making a difference in the life of a child in Africa. Your investment CHANGES LIVES!
I also want to tell you about another great fundraising program that Coaches Across Continents has just started. A private foundation has committed to matching all donations that end in the amount of ‘27’ up to the amount of $27,000! So by donating with an amount that ends in $27 ($27, $127, $1027, etc) your money will count twice! How cool is that!?!? To find out more about the CaC Matching Donation Program go to: http://sportingcommunities.edwardswan.com/?p=2267
• $127 buys a ball, pencil, shirt, and other program supplies for a child to participate in the program for three years.
• $527 enables a local teacher to participate in CaC’s train-the-trainer program where they learn skills to create a sustainable year-round program in their community.
• $1,027 supports a whole team of kids in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia or Haiti.
• $2,527 supports a CaC volunteer coach to work in Africa.
• $5,027 starts a new partnership between a local African NGO and CaC (we have a long waiting list).
• $10,027 becomes a founding investor in CaC and effect change throughout the world.
• $27,027 runs a full Hat-trick initiative for one year.
To end this blog I want to leave you with this quote that I read on Anna Rodenbough’s blog. It seemed to sum up my thoughts and hopes for this journey I am on better than I could.
“The magic of travel is that you leave your home secure in your own knowledge and identity, but as you travel, the world in all its richness intervenes. You meet people you could not invent; you see scenes you could not imagine. Your own world, which was so large as to consume your whole life, becomes smaller and smaller until it is only one tiny dot in space and time. You return a different person.
Many people don’t want to be travelers. They would rather be tourists, flitting over the surface of other peoples lives while never really leaving their own. They try to bring their world with them wherever they go, or try to recreate the world they left. They do not want to risk the security of their own understanding and see how small and limited their experiences really are.
If we don’t offer ourselves to the world, our senses dull. Our world becomes small, and we lose our sense of wonder. Our eyes don’t lift to the horizon; we don’t hear the sounds around us. The edge is off our experience and we pass our days in a routine that is both comfortable and limiting. We wake up one day and find that we have lost our dreams in order to protect our days.
Travel, no matter how humble, will etch new elements into your character. You will know the cutting moments of life where fear meets adventure and loneliness meets exhilaration. You will know what it means to push forward when you want to turn back. And when you have tragedies or great changes in your life, you will understand, that there are a thousand, a million ways to live, and that your life will go on to something new and different and every bit as worthy as the life you are leaving behind.” - Unknown
Tracy
A Snapshot
Since I failed to properly introduce myself in my first blog post, here is a quick snapshot to get a better idea of my background and experiences that I will bring to Coaches Across Continents this summer.
My name is Tracy Noonan. I grew up in North Andover, MA and currently reside in Chapel Hill, NC. I went to college at the University of North Carolina, majored in Biology, played in goal for the Tarheels, fell in love with Chapel Hill and have never left! After finishing my career at UNC, I went on to play for the U.S. Women's National Team and also professionally for the Boston Breakers before having to retire at the end of 2003 due to knee injuries. Since then I have been busy coaching; as a Head Coach at Greensboro College (D3), a gk coach at various U.S. Girl's National Team events (U14, U15, U17, and U20 age groups), and ultimately developing my own camp business. In 2005 I founded Dynasty Goalkeeping. Dynasty GK is a goalkeeper camp designed for the elite level female goalkeeper ages 14 and older. We run 7 weeks of intense overnight camps during the summer as well as clinics and private lessons throughout the rest of the year. The camp attracts top high school, club, youth National Team, and current collegiate players from all over the country and even a few from beyond the U.S. borders! (Canada and Ireland thus far!) Dynasty is committed to developing competitive, disciplined, and confident athletes. It is a WHOLE player approach that focuses not only on the on field technical and tactical skills, but also the off field components such as strength & conditioning, nutrition, mental training, and leadership qualities that make up a complete player. Our approach and coaching style may be unique, but the most notable feature of Dynasty Goalkeeping though is its size. Each week of camp is limited to a maximum of 12 students to ensure lots of individual attention for every student. Our priority is on quality not quantity.
So now you know a little bit more about me!
Tracy
My name is Tracy Noonan. I grew up in North Andover, MA and currently reside in Chapel Hill, NC. I went to college at the University of North Carolina, majored in Biology, played in goal for the Tarheels, fell in love with Chapel Hill and have never left! After finishing my career at UNC, I went on to play for the U.S. Women's National Team and also professionally for the Boston Breakers before having to retire at the end of 2003 due to knee injuries. Since then I have been busy coaching; as a Head Coach at Greensboro College (D3), a gk coach at various U.S. Girl's National Team events (U14, U15, U17, and U20 age groups), and ultimately developing my own camp business. In 2005 I founded Dynasty Goalkeeping. Dynasty GK is a goalkeeper camp designed for the elite level female goalkeeper ages 14 and older. We run 7 weeks of intense overnight camps during the summer as well as clinics and private lessons throughout the rest of the year. The camp attracts top high school, club, youth National Team, and current collegiate players from all over the country and even a few from beyond the U.S. borders! (Canada and Ireland thus far!) Dynasty is committed to developing competitive, disciplined, and confident athletes. It is a WHOLE player approach that focuses not only on the on field technical and tactical skills, but also the off field components such as strength & conditioning, nutrition, mental training, and leadership qualities that make up a complete player. Our approach and coaching style may be unique, but the most notable feature of Dynasty Goalkeeping though is its size. Each week of camp is limited to a maximum of 12 students to ensure lots of individual attention for every student. Our priority is on quality not quantity.
Tracy
How do I get there from here?
TANZANIA?!?! WHAT?!?! WHY?!?! I know that is what most of your are thinking right now so here is a little more info to get you up to speed.
The story begins back in July 2007. Coaches Across Continents founder and long time friend Nick Gates was passing through North Carolina on a drive north from Florida to Boston. He was literally an hour from Chapel Hill when he called me out of the blue. I hadn’t spoken to him or seen him in years and I just happened to be free on this particular day off in between weeks of a summer full of camps. We met for lunch and he filled me in on his year of travel in Africa. We talked about his vision for Coaches Across Continents. Long story short, I was intrigued and immediately drawn in by the passion he had for this overwhelming undertaking.
In 2008 I followed Nick's journeys across Africa and watched his remarkable vision come to fruition. The photos, videos, and stories were incredible. Eager to be involved, but in the midst of going through a divorce, recovering emotionally and financially, as well as running my camp business, the timing was not right. I had enough on my plate already!
In 2009 my camp business, Dynasty Goalkeeping, became involved with Coaches Across Continents through the Dynasty Community Outreach Challenge. Started in 2008, the aim of the Community Outreach Challenge is to make my students more social aware and to inspire them to act "beyond themselves". In 2008 students donated sports bras to the Carolina For Kibera organization, http://cfk.unc.edu/index.php for females who participate in the CFK Youth Sports Program in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Who knew such a simple and standard article of clothing for female athletes around the world was considered a luxury item for young women in Africa. It is just one of the many things we never think of and I know that I certainly took for granted. In 2009 the goal was simple -- to donate new and/or barely used goalkeeper gloves. The response from my students was overwhelmingly positive! They rallied and donated over 150 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, as well as cleats, shorts, pens and pencils all to be put to good use by the Coaches Across Continents supported organizations in Africa.
This brings me to Tanzania. The more I have learned about Coaches Across Continents mission and followed them, the more compelled I have become to act. To me it is impossible not to be involved when I see how much Nick has achieved, how much he continues to give, and hearing the hope in his voice knowing that they are already making a HUGE difference in just 3 brief years. It is an amazing organization that took tremendous vision, energy, passion, and countless hours for Nick to develop without earning a single cent. It is an impressive undertaking that should inspire us all to do more and to see that we are all capable of giving more of ourselves. The stories I have read and the photos I have seen from Nick and the other CAC volunteers of their challenges, successes, and the lives they are impacting, are powerful. The children in their videos have NOTHING. Struggling for food, water, and shelter is their daily reality while my thoughts are about what shirt to wear in a closet full of choices, what food to eat in a refrigerator stocked with food from Whole Foods, and what flowers I should plant as spring arrives. We have it SO easy that it is hard to fathom and comprehend what life a continent away is truly like. They play in bare feet on dirt fields with glass, teenage girls come to play with THEIR babies strapped to their backs, yet somehow they smile and there is joy. If Nick could devote his life to this, how could I not be involved in some small way? Volunteering as a coach is the very LEAST I can do.
So in the fall of 2009 I mentioned to Nick that I wanted to be involved and to keep me in mind as a volunteer for the future. No big discussion, I just said June and July were not options as those are my big camp months. Then in January 2010 Nick casually mentions, as he is hanging up the phone, for me to keep September free since I will be heading to Tanzania. What?!?! REALLY?!?!? I seriously thought he was kidding, but when I received the email a few weeks later with the 2010 Staff Placements I realized he wasn't! FANTASTIC! I was thrilled!
So the journey begins! I am so excited about the opportunity that lies ahead. I can no longer stand on the sideline cheering others on. I want in the game!
That being said I know this experience will be very difficult emotionally and one that will be impossible to fully comprehend until I arrive. The anticipation is already building and my journey is still 5+ months away. I don't leave for Tanzania until the end of August, but there is plenty to do -- shots to be had, research to be done, and funds to be raised!
To make donating easier I have established a fund raising website:
http://www.firstgiving.com/tracynoonan
Your contributions will help fund flights, local transport and living expenses for volunteers (like me!) that make the Coaches Across Continents programs possible. In addition they are also used to create locally owned, sustainable programs that teach coaches and teacher how to implement the 4 part CAC curriculum of Soccer for Health and Wellness (including HIV and malaria education), Soccer for Female Empowerment, Soccer for Conflict Resolution, and Soccer for Fun. It's an astounding program that is already winning awards and gaining international recognition! In 2009 they won the Beyond Sport Global Award for Sport for Social Development. So be sure to check out their website http://www.coachesacrosscontinents.com/ and video links!
I will keep you all in the loop of my pre-trip preparations here as dates and details become finalized. Initial the posts won’t be that frequent, however as the trip nears and the journey begins I will post as often as internet access permits (which may be quite limited once I get to Africa) so you can keep tabs on me and the work of Coaches Across Continents.
Thank you for all your support and encouragement!
Tracy
The story begins back in July 2007. Coaches Across Continents founder and long time friend Nick Gates was passing through North Carolina on a drive north from Florida to Boston. He was literally an hour from Chapel Hill when he called me out of the blue. I hadn’t spoken to him or seen him in years and I just happened to be free on this particular day off in between weeks of a summer full of camps. We met for lunch and he filled me in on his year of travel in Africa. We talked about his vision for Coaches Across Continents. Long story short, I was intrigued and immediately drawn in by the passion he had for this overwhelming undertaking. In 2008 I followed Nick's journeys across Africa and watched his remarkable vision come to fruition. The photos, videos, and stories were incredible. Eager to be involved, but in the midst of going through a divorce, recovering emotionally and financially, as well as running my camp business, the timing was not right. I had enough on my plate already!
In 2009 my camp business, Dynasty Goalkeeping, became involved with Coaches Across Continents through the Dynasty Community Outreach Challenge. Started in 2008, the aim of the Community Outreach Challenge is to make my students more social aware and to inspire them to act "beyond themselves". In 2008 students donated sports bras to the Carolina For Kibera organization, http://cfk.unc.edu/index.php for females who participate in the CFK Youth Sports Program in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. Who knew such a simple and standard article of clothing for female athletes around the world was considered a luxury item for young women in Africa. It is just one of the many things we never think of and I know that I certainly took for granted. In 2009 the goal was simple -- to donate new and/or barely used goalkeeper gloves. The response from my students was overwhelmingly positive! They rallied and donated over 150 pairs of goalkeeper gloves, as well as cleats, shorts, pens and pencils all to be put to good use by the Coaches Across Continents supported organizations in Africa.
This brings me to Tanzania. The more I have learned about Coaches Across Continents mission and followed them, the more compelled I have become to act. To me it is impossible not to be involved when I see how much Nick has achieved, how much he continues to give, and hearing the hope in his voice knowing that they are already making a HUGE difference in just 3 brief years. It is an amazing organization that took tremendous vision, energy, passion, and countless hours for Nick to develop without earning a single cent. It is an impressive undertaking that should inspire us all to do more and to see that we are all capable of giving more of ourselves. The stories I have read and the photos I have seen from Nick and the other CAC volunteers of their challenges, successes, and the lives they are impacting, are powerful. The children in their videos have NOTHING. Struggling for food, water, and shelter is their daily reality while my thoughts are about what shirt to wear in a closet full of choices, what food to eat in a refrigerator stocked with food from Whole Foods, and what flowers I should plant as spring arrives. We have it SO easy that it is hard to fathom and comprehend what life a continent away is truly like. They play in bare feet on dirt fields with glass, teenage girls come to play with THEIR babies strapped to their backs, yet somehow they smile and there is joy. If Nick could devote his life to this, how could I not be involved in some small way? Volunteering as a coach is the very LEAST I can do.
So in the fall of 2009 I mentioned to Nick that I wanted to be involved and to keep me in mind as a volunteer for the future. No big discussion, I just said June and July were not options as those are my big camp months. Then in January 2010 Nick casually mentions, as he is hanging up the phone, for me to keep September free since I will be heading to Tanzania. What?!?! REALLY?!?!? I seriously thought he was kidding, but when I received the email a few weeks later with the 2010 Staff Placements I realized he wasn't! FANTASTIC! I was thrilled!
So the journey begins! I am so excited about the opportunity that lies ahead. I can no longer stand on the sideline cheering others on. I want in the game!
That being said I know this experience will be very difficult emotionally and one that will be impossible to fully comprehend until I arrive. The anticipation is already building and my journey is still 5+ months away. I don't leave for Tanzania until the end of August, but there is plenty to do -- shots to be had, research to be done, and funds to be raised!
To make donating easier I have established a fund raising website:
http://www.firstgiving.com/tracynoonan
Your contributions will help fund flights, local transport and living expenses for volunteers (like me!) that make the Coaches Across Continents programs possible. In addition they are also used to create locally owned, sustainable programs that teach coaches and teacher how to implement the 4 part CAC curriculum of Soccer for Health and Wellness (including HIV and malaria education), Soccer for Female Empowerment, Soccer for Conflict Resolution, and Soccer for Fun. It's an astounding program that is already winning awards and gaining international recognition! In 2009 they won the Beyond Sport Global Award for Sport for Social Development. So be sure to check out their website http://www.coachesacrosscontinents.com/ and video links!
I will keep you all in the loop of my pre-trip preparations here as dates and details become finalized. Initial the posts won’t be that frequent, however as the trip nears and the journey begins I will post as often as internet access permits (which may be quite limited once I get to Africa) so you can keep tabs on me and the work of Coaches Across Continents.
Thank you for all your support and encouragement!
Tracy
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