Orphan Games Concept Description The Orphan Games initiative was put forward by a not-for-profit group called Wheels Of Action (WOA) in an effort to encourage networking among local orphanages in Tanzania. The project is being created in cooperation with a local Tanzanian based NGO called The Orphans Foundation Fund(www.orphansfoundationfund.org). The main purpose of this project is to establish a means of gathering, inspiring and empowering underprivileged youth through athletic activities. At the same time, the Orphan Games aims to encourage local NGOs to network and learn from each other's experiences while informing the local community of their work. Using competitive sports as a platform, Wheels Of Action and The Orphans Foundation Fund hope to provide a sense of belonging within the orphan community, promote healthy lifestyle habits, encourage self-respect and respect of others, and facilitate the development of lasting friendships. The aim of the Orphan Games is to organize a day of athletic activities and competition for orphaned children in Tanzania. The Orphan Games will take place in Arusha on November 28th and Dar es Salaam on December 12th 2009. It is expected that street children not currently residing in orphanages will also be in attendance – WOA volunteers with the help of local ‘centers for street children’ will canvas the local communities looking for vulnerable children, and encourage their attendance at the games. As the event is free for the public, a very large audience is anticipated at each of these events. Following the successful implementation of the Orphan Games in Tanzania, WOA intends to build upon this model and expand the concept in other under-developed countries. Orphan Games Expected Outcomes & Achievements: 1. To show orphans and street children that they are not alone, but members of a larger community by creating a family feeling amongst the orphanages and centers for street children. 2. To send a message to local street children that life in a care center is worthwhile and can provide them with their everyday needs, an education, and protect them from detrimental lifestyles. This event will be an opportunity to show children who refuse the help of care centers that these places are not only good for them but can be great places to grow up in a community of their peers. 3. To honor the work of staff/volunteers of orphanages and centers for street children, while enabling the community to recognize these “local heroes” and thank them for their efforts. 4. To raise community awareness that will lead to increased public support for underprivileged children. The incorporation of local sponsors, organizers and volunteers in this event will positively encourage more Tanzanians to become active participants in the betterment of their community. 5. To establish a network for Tanzanian childrens’ organizations that will enable them to better understand the situations being dealt with by other organizations in similar positions, and provide mutual support (a WOA initiative which is currently under construction aims to collect and make available valuable and often difficult-to-find knowledge, experiences and wisdom among Tanzanian NGOs). 6. To create synergy among local Tanzanian NGOs and charitable organizations while developing mutually beneficial partnerships (e.g. working with already established local NGOs such as The Orphans Foundation Fund www.orphansfoundationfund.org). 7. To instill in children at an early age the Olympic Dream©, encouraging positive thinking and the opportunity to achieve that goal by rewarding their talent and dedication with athletic scholarships and financial support. 8. To create a fun day of athletic competition for orphaned and street children, giving them the opportunity to meet children in similar circumstances and compete in a friendly environment. The event will include musicians, performers and other entertainment to make it an exciting cultural event and encourage community participation. Program The Orphan Games will take place in Arusha and Dar es Salaam in the fall of 2009 as part of Vodacom’s Care & Share Campaign. The event will incorporate well-known Olympic© disciplines, award ceremonies, and performances/social activities to create a memorable experience for everyone involved. *See page 6 for the preliminary program description The current program is a brief outline of what can be expected during the actual event, and is a result of preliminary discussions with some of the participating orphanages. -A revised and more conclusive program will be available after further meetings and planning with the confirmed participants and the volunteer committee. WOA has several representatives currently doing volunteer groundwork and expects to have more representatives in Tanzania to conduct these meetings and finalize the program by September 30, 2009. Perspectives For The Children & The Communities: The Orphan Games will honor and encourage children who are marginalized and abandoned. Healthy competition and a sense of sportsmanship will give the children a better outlook on life by instilling in them a sense of self-worth and of respect for others regardless of origin. They will see what it means to conduct their lives with discipline, self-respect and focus. Productive, positive youth grow into productive adults, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and disease (HIV/AIDS) that leads to generation after generation of children being abandoned. The Orphan Games will bring opportunities for these children to experience many athletic disciplines and sports. By building community solidarity around orphaned youth, who are so often marginalized, integration and reintroduction into society will become more possible for these children. -By recognizing them and providing a status in society, we aim to give these underprivileged children a chance to grow in a nurturing environment. -Using local sponsors, organizers and volunteers in this event will encourage and motivate Tanzanians to better their communities. -The participation of foreign bodies such as WOA would serve to assist the local organizers in attaining any resources not readily available, and to draw international attention for an event that could be replicated in other countries and/or repeated annually. The Orphan Games aims to inspire orphans and street children to take a more active role in the planning and organizing of future Orphan Games events, thus enabling the creation of a platform where child participants in the games can eventually take over the Orphan Games and create future events. Through this initiative, Wheels Of Action will be able to hand over the management of the Orphan Games to empowered adults who once were the children this event was created to inspire. Strengthening Olympic© Disciplines Internationally: Introducing youth to athletic disciplines and sports that are not well established in the region is the first fundamental step to broadening underdeveloped nations' participation in more disciplines on the Olympic© scene. With the Rising Athletes Fund (*see below), talented children and youth will be given an opportunity to further develop their potential in unfamiliar disciplines, thereby becoming catalysts for the development of new sports in their region/country. Athletic Talents: A local fund - *Rising Athletes Fund - will be established with the assistance of local sponsors. The fund will provide the opportunity for highly talented, dedicated young athletes who have demonstrated outstanding skills at the Orphan Games with a chance to train and develop their athletic capabilities. This opportunity will be presented to each orphanage/center, giving children in these centers something concrete to strive for. Vodacom Benefits: The Orphan Games aims to become an invaluable opportunity for Vodacom to expand its market share in Tanzania and internationally. By becoming the core sponsors of the Orphan Games it will enable long-term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) benefits by enhancing the competiveness of Vodacom’s services while maximizing Vodacom’s local community service initiatives. á The Orphan Games will become an extension to Vodacom’s Care & Share Campaign, allowing for more recognition on a global scale through Wheels Of Action. á WOA will duplicate the Orphan Games in other countries and will use the Vodacom sponsored events as both a promotional tool and a model for future events. á The International Olympic Committee will associate Vodacom with the Orphan Games as a successful method of promoting the Olympic Dream© in an effort to unite and inspire people across cultures to build a better future for themselves and the world they live in. á Vodacom has an opportunity to benefit from strong brand visibility through the association with a major cultural/musical and humanitarian event. Special Sponsorship Opportunities *Rising Athlete Fund: An opportunity to create a special scholarship from local area sponsors that aims to provide talented young athletes from underprivileged backgrounds the chance to train and develop their skills, helping them to reach their dreams of one day competing in the International Olympic Games©. Strategy Wheels Of Action is responsible for the overall organization and implementation of the Orphan Games. As such, WOA will oversee all aspects of the project and account for all expenditures. In an effort to more accurately fulfill the needs of the community, WOA has formed a partnership with The Orphans Foundation Fund. WOA is a not-for-profit volunteer organization in which none of the members of the WOA team are compensated for their work. Therefore, WOA has agreed with Vodacom to seek co-sponsors’ that will fund the WOA Administration Costs for the planning, organizing and running of the Orphan Games. All financial and supporting documentation will be available upon request to the public. This will ensure WOA transparency, accountability, and ensure appropriate use of the raised funds. The local WOA Arusha project manager will be in charge of local organizational duties for the Arusha event, and will work closely with The Orphans Foundation Fund team to coordinate this event. The project manager will be responsible for recruiting participants, volunteers, NGOs, charitable organizations, sponsors and the local community at large. WOA’s founder/organizer will be based in Dar es Salaam and make all the necessary arrangements for the Orphan Games events that will take place in Dar es Salaam. WOA Background Wheels Of Action (WOA) was founded in January 2008 by a handful of volunteer business students and professionals in Copenhagen, Denmark with the aim to “get the wheels turning” in the fight against global poverty. WOA consults both local and foreign organizations, helping strengthen their community initiatives with new ideas and the means to see these projects through. With WOA’s input, these organizations are better able to achieve their immediate goals while implementing long-term strategies of sustainability, self-sufficiency and community cooperation to bring about lasting social change. WOA aims to empower community development through the exchange of resources, skills and energy. Our grassroots strategy enables us to focus on addressing needs within specific communities by assisting NGOs and charitable organizations that do not have the money or resources to find solutions to their specific needs. To more accurately focus our services while continuously improving and adapting our process, the Wheels Of Action team has decided to currently direct its energy towards forging a partnership between Denmark and Tanzania. As our organization expands and secures contacts in the global community, we will be instrumental in facilitating communication between like-minded organizations, nurturing an international network of collective contribution and collaborative efforts. Preliminary Program 08:00 Arrival –Venue (Arusha/Dar es Salaam) After all participants arrive at the venue a briefing of the day’s program will take place. The different teams and competitors are allocated to their respective areas. 09:00 Sports Activities* The session of sports activities involves individual orphanages competing against each other. The actual competition will only involve children of ages 8 and above. The disciplines taking place here include: relay, sprints, long jump, high jump, shot put, floor ball and football. The children under 8 years of age will participate in other less demanding social activities and games. 12:00 Lunch Break Lunch is served for all participants from the orphanages as well as the street children who are as well expected to attend. 13:00 Sports Activities* This session involves team sports and games in which joint groups are formed between different orphanages. The activities will not involve Olympic© disciplines but will focus on entertaining the children with fun and games. These will include: tug-of-wars for children and staff, 3 legged run, balloon race, limbo, water-bucket relay. 15:00 Kids Performance The performances will include children’s acrobatic groups, dancers, and singing. 16:15 “Star Performer” An invited musician/athlete will perform as the final big event of the day. 17:00 Awards Ceremony & Speeches The three top participants of each discipline will receive a medal. The three orphanages with the highest collective points will receive a trophy. Speeches are held by selected guests and sponsors. 18:00 Dinner Dinner is served for all participants from the orphanages as well as the street children who are expected to attend. 18:45 Closing Participants pack and return to respective orphanages.   •   Changes in the specific activities may occur. See www.wheelsofaction.org for further details about the work undertaken by the WOA team and the partners involved.