Zohn utilizes fame to fight HIV with soccer
From poughkeepsiejournal.com
By Dan Pietrafesa
Editor’s note: The following is a question and answer interview conducted by phone with Vassar College graduate and “Survivor: Africa” winner Ethan Zohn:
You’re best known for winning “Survivor: Africa.” How has this changed your life?
It puts you in circles you never think you would be in and it opens doors for you. For me, it allowed me to do something so passionate to me in Grassroot Soccer.
I’d probably be doing Grassroot Soccer even if I didn’t win “Survivor: Africa.” But it’d take me 20 years to get where I am today.
What is Grassroot Soccer and why did you start it?
Prior to Survivor, I played soccer in Zimbabwe and witnessed first-hand HIV. It was crushing the entire community and I felt helpless. I didn’t do anything at that point.
I went back to Kenya for “Survivor: Africa.” I was hanging out with kids in the parking lot of a hospital. They were all HIV positive. I was having a real-life experience and it made me think. At that point, whatever happens with “Survivor: Africa,” it’s a game. I realized there are so many more important things in life than this game.
With Grassroot Soccer, we train professional soccer players in Africa about HIV and AIDS, and they go to schools to teach AIDS prevention to youth. These soccer players are gods and role models in the communities they play in.
How effective has Grassroot Soccer been thus far in educating people about HIV and AIDS prevention?
It’s been quite effective. We have been fortunate enough to have a group from Stanford University helping us with questionnaires. We found kids that have gone through the program have changed behaviors. The kids, who went through the program, are educating their peers. It was shocking to us.
Does the program continue to grow?
We started the program in Zimbabwe and the program has spreaded to other African nations. We’re going into South Africa as they gear up for the 2010 World Cup. Instead of going to each of these countries though, we found so many great organizations existing for us to go in there and work under the umbrella of their company.
One of the fund-raising and awareness programs going through Grassroot Soccer is Kick AIDS. What is Kick AIDS?
In this country, we have youth soccer and it’s the most popular youth sport right now. There is so much potential to raise funds and awareness in the soccer community. We’re going to visit 150 high schools this fall and teach the students about HIV and AIDS in America and Africa.
How do students react when you speak to them on the topics of HIV and AIDS in America and Africa?
The kids are shocked by the numbers. There are 30 million people in Africa living with AIDS. Forty percent of the adult population in Botswana is HIV positive, and in Zimbabwe, it’s 33 percent.
In the tsunami, 240,000 people died from something we could not prevent. In the AIDS world, 10,000 people die of AIDS each day and this disease can be prevented.
How successful has Kick AIDS been?
Last year, we had 80 high schools involved and raised about $75,000. It’s more than just juggle-a-thons. It’s not just soccer and everyone is starting to catch on, which is very exciting to us. Kids are dancing, swimming, and doing lay-ups or three-pointers to raise money.
They can win prizes for raising money.
In the short time since you’ve won “Survivor: Africa,” you’ve done so much and been recognized for your work in educating people about HIV and AIDS. What are you most proud of and how has your work enabled you to fulfill your dream or goal?
Since my dad died, I always wanted to save lives. I was studying to be a doctor. I’m in a such a unique, lucky, and fortunate position, and I don’t want to screw it up. I wanted to create something which will be here years after I’m gone to make a difference and change the world.
“Survivor: Africa” was great. It wasn’t the end. It was a new beginning for me. There are more kids to talk to, more money to raise and ways to tweak our curriculum.
You played professional soccer and was an assistant coach for five seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson University, coaching both the men’s and women’s teams at one point. Do you plan on coaching or playing soccer again?
I’m still involved in soccer. I’m still playing in men’s leagues. Coaching, I’m not sure if I’ll get back into it. I still get my fix of coaching when I have opportunities like this at Vassar. I run some soccer clinics.
You’re co-hosting “The Metro Soccer Report” with Shep Messing, a former goalie for the old New York Cosmos and one of the great goalies to have played in the United States. What is it like as a goalie to be working with someone like Shep?
He was a hero of mine growing up and it’s awesome. He’s like a mentor to me. He’s extremely knowledgeable of the game and he’s good on TV. It’s great sitting around and hearing the stories about Pele. Hearing his experiences from playing soccer here in the 1970s, it’s great.
Soccer continues to be such a popular sport among the youth in the United States, but can a professional league here ever enjoy the popularity of the old North American Soccer League and the New York Cosmos?
They were selling out those stadiums. The fan base is there now and there is the potential to get there again. (Major League Soccer) has been around for only 10 years. If you look at Italy and Spain, these are 200-year-old leagues. When my kids are adults and there is a culture born and raised in a soccer nation, you could see a significant difference.
Do you ever second guess giving up your studies to become a doctor for everything you’ve done?
No. I’m so fortunate. I got to combine everything I enjoy in life, saving lives and soccer. How lucky am I to do something I love?
Profile
Ethan Zohn
Age: 31
Hometown: Lexington, Mass.
Residence: New York City
Family: Mom, Rochelle; brothers, Leonard, Lee
Hobbies: Scuba diving, photography, eating
On the Web: www.ezohn.com
www.kickaids.org
www.grassrootsoccer.org
Quick Hits:
Favorite stadium?
Barbar Fields in Zimbabwe.
Preference to play soccer on — turf or grass?
Grass.
Biggest influence in your life and why?
My family. They’ve been great. My father passed away from colon cancer when I was 14. He told me “to make happiness real for others is truly a greatest gift. It provides the foundation for the celebration of life.” I live by that.