Ethan joins initiative to build a soccer field for young girls in rural Africa
In many parts of Africa sporting activities, in particular soccer/football, are being incorporated into a variety of programs geared towards helping youth to address a broad range of issues affecting their lives. The “team” approach is especially important if countries are to successfully meet and overcome their current challenges, from poverty to HIV/AIDS, and from malnutrition to educational access.
This summer, the NY-based non profit, Architecture for Humanity is challenging the creative world to design a football facility in Somkhele, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. This facility, run by medical professionals from the Africa Center for Health and Population Studies, will serve as a gathering place for youth between the ages of 9 and 14 including home to the first-ever girls football league in the area. The pitch will also act as a tool to disseminate information on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and eventually a service point for a mobile health care clinic.
Three placed finalists and twelve honorable mentions will be selected by the jury which includes the curator of MoMA Paola Antonelli, award winning designer Yves Behar and founder of Grassroot Soccer, Ethan Zohn. The final decision for the winning design will be chosen by the Somkhele Girls Football team.
All finalists and a number of honorable mentions will be featured in I.D. Magazine. In addition to displaying entries on its website, Architecture for Humanity will exhibit selected entries on a traveling exhibition starting in December of 2004.
The winning design will be built in Somkhele in 2005.
More info can be found at http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/