The Children International Game On! Program:
Coaching Children for a Better Life Through Sports
A Chance to Change Lives
At some point in their lives, most children dream
of being winners. The rush of scoring the big one…the
bleachers going wild…the ride back to the locker room
on the shoulders of teammates.
Children in the impoverished communities served by
Children International are no exception. But when they
open their eyes from their dreams, they are greeted by
the stark reality of their poverty and the realization of the
near certainty that those dreams are destined to fade.
But things are changing! A growing number of
children are learning what it’s like to hear applause...
the encouraging voices of coaches and teammates…
and the satisfaction of being part of a winning team. This
is what the launch of Children International’s Game On!
program, in partnership with the International Alliance
for Youth Sports (IAYS), has meant to hundreds of kids
in poor communities in developing nations…and our
dream is to push that number into the thousands.
Game On! is about more than sports. It’s about
teaching skills and values that can help give children
and young people the edge they need to get ahead in life.
Please read more about the Game On! program in the
next few pages…and please consider partnering with us
to bring its message of health, hope and good, clean fun
to the children who need it most.
Dan Phelan
Campaign Chairman
Game On! Global Program
Teaching Life Skills...the FUN Way
Kids listen to coaches. They understand that coaches are there to help
them win…to help them sharpen their skills and give them the discipline
they need to succeed. But the Children International Game On! program
uses the influence that coaches and trainers already have with children to
do much more than just turn young people into better athletes.
Game On! is about involving children in sports – but its purpose goes
deeper. We realize that children and youth in disadvantaged communities
have enormous obstacles to overcome in life…and few chances to get
the skills they need to overcome them. So besides coaching them on how
to handle a ball or score a goal, we also train them in vital life skills and
values like goal setting, teamwork, responsibility, conflict resolution,
learning how to win and lose, and respect for authority figures – qualities
that promote good citizenship and build strong communities.
Thanks to Game On!, hundreds of children are getting a chance to
get involved in positive, healthy activities. And the life lessons they’re
learning along the way will stay with them long after they enter adulthood.
Game On! develops athletic skills…
and strong communities.
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Foundational Values of the Game On! Program
In order to accomplish its dual purpose – getting children involved in
sports and building life skills and values – the Game On! program adheres
to the following four key principles:
FUN. We believe kids want to be challenged, and our program is
designed to encourage its participants to push themselves to new heights.
But at the same time, we strive to keep the experience fun and exciting to
keep children motivated and encourage others to get involved.
PARTICIPATION. Instead of focusing on competition, Game On!
focuses on total involvement. Emphasis is placed on effort, attitude and
sportsmanship; and because we remove the stigma of losing, even children
who are not athletically inclined can participate and have fun. According
to volunteer coach Luzmenia Moncada of Valparaíso, Chile, “Slowly, [the
children] are learning the real values of sports – and that’s important.”
LEARNING. Children in the Game On! program practice hard and
are encouraged to do their very best. But sports is not all that is taught.
Young people also learn respect for others, discipline, teamwork and
honesty…all essential values that will help when the time comes to enter
the workforce.
SUCCESS. Because we focus more on developing character than
winning games, every child who participates in Game On! can feel like
a champion. Everyone gets to play…everyone wins. Children from
disadvantaged backgrounds can experience the affirmation of a pat on the
back and a “Good job!” from their teammates and coaches…which builds
their self-esteem and gives them hope for their future.
In Game On!, participation – not
winning – is the point.
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Scoring Big for Children
The cost to implement the Game On! program varies from country
to country. The most costly phase is the initial launch, which requires
extensive training for coaches and other volunteer staff, purchasing
equipment and securing places to play. We foresee costs diminishing and
return on investment increasing in each location as the program matures.
In general, Game On! operates at a cost of approximately $125 per
participant. These funds are provided by generous donors like yourself
who see the potential that lies in children and young people and who share
our vision of opening doors for their future.
We bring to the Game On! program the same fiscal responsibility you
have come to expect from Children International in other areas, like our
signature child sponsorship program. And, of course, you can count on all
contributions to the Game On! program being used wisely and efficiently.
Our goal is to expand Game On! to include nine countries and over
7,000 participants by 2015. We’re already making progress toward our
goal of over $3.3 million, but we still need your help.
While the cost of the program is substantial, it’s a small amount
compared to the lifelong impact it will have on the children who
participate. We’re convinced it’s worth it. By making a major donation
to the Game On! program, you’ll be helping make a lasting difference in
children…as well as entire communities.
By 2015, our Game On! program will serve
over 7,000 children in nine countries.
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A Winning Strategy
When we decided to use youth sports as a means of teaching life skills
and values, we sought to partner with an organization with a proven track
record in operating youth sports programs aimed at developing children’s
character and abilities. This led us to join with the IAYS, the creator of the
Game On! model. It is an organization driven by the belief that sports have
great value in the physical, social and moral development of children; as
such, it works with organizations all around the world to ensure children
have access to the trained volunteers, programming, facilities and
equipment they need in order to participate.
Through our partnership with the IAYS, donors can be confident
that the Game On! program will be operated in a safe, responsible and
effective way at each Children International agency where the program
operates.
One key element of the program is that we prepare key figures of the
community to serve as coaches and co-captains of the teams. Parents,
teachers and responsible youth volunteers receive specialized training that
gives them the technical knowledge they need and enables them to become
positive role models.
The Children International Game On! program is open to all children
and youth, regardless of sponsorship status. Teams meet twice weekly for
practice sessions that incorporate life-skills lessons through a combination
of sports and outdoor games.
Game On! is a team effort that involves
parents and community leaders.
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Game On! matters. Join the team!
Children, youth and parents all agree: Game On! has the power to transform lives
in fun and unique ways. From teaching valuable skills like teamwork and leadership, to
helping young people develop their personalities and grow in positive ways, Game On!
is making goals more attainable.
What they are saying about Game On!
“Game On! taught me
to do my homework
before playing.
– Marí a, participant
in Colombia
Scoring Points for Respect and Responsibility
María Parejo from Barranquilla, Colombia, has seen many changes in
her behavior and attitude since joining Game On! But María says her
relationships with family members are one of the best changes that have
happened.
Before Game On! María told us, “I used to fight a lot with my oldest
brother. It has improved because I talked with him and I told him that we
needed to respect each other…that it was not good for two siblings to fight
as we did.” Since then, she added, “Our relationship has improved a lot.”
María also has more respect for her mother and is doing more chores at
home. Game On! has even helped María improve her schoolwork. “I used to
do my homework late at night. From the moment I enrolled in Game On!” she
said, “they taught me to do my homework before playing.”
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“Jordaniha is very
shy, and Game On!
is helping her come
out of her shell.”
– Maricela, mother
of participant
in Chile
Making Positive Changes
In Valparaíso, Chile, Maricela Flores – mother of Game On! participant
Jordaniha – said she is grateful for her daughter’s opportunity to play organized
sports.
“I’m thankful because Children International not only cares about our
monetary limitations,” explains Maricela, “the organization also cares about our
development as people. When I found out about Game On!, I didn’t hesitate in
having my daughter participate. Jordaniha is very shy, and Game On! is helping
her come out of her shell.”
Game On! helps children win at life.
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Learning New Skills
Jéssica Gutiérrez – who participates
in Game On! through our Jalisco,
Mexico, agency – has a lot of praise for
how the program has enriched her life.
The teen is a coach to younger kids and
also enjoys playing sports, especially
soccer.
Asked what kinds of things she has
learned as a coach, Jéssica says, “To
have patience, to explain things well…
and not to scold the children.” Teaching
them to support and encourage each
other, she adds, is also important.
Jéssica says that Game On! has
taught her to be more responsible. As an
example, she says, “I didn’t used to do
my homework…I was lazy.” But thanks
to Game On!, adds Jéssica, “I realized
that I had to do it…it’s valuable, and
something I take more seriously now.”
Teaching younger children to support and encourage
each other is important.
– Jéssica, participant in Mexico
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“It helps them to
keep away from
gangs and drugs.”
– Jhonys,
participant in
Colombia
Staying on the Right Track
Jhonys is grateful for the uniform he received from the Game On! program.
He also appreciates the lessons he is learning. “The coordinator,” he says, “taught
us that the soccer court is a place to play, learn and have fun.” Adds Jhonys,
“Sometimes there are frictions, but we have learned to calm ourselves down and
play to just have fun.”
Game On!, said Jhonys, is very important for the kids in the community. It
helps them to keep away from gangs and drugs.
“I’ve received proposals sometimes to smoke marijuana,” he confides. “When
boys start smoking, I always separate myself from them. They yell and call me a
fool, but I don’t really care about that. I am doing good things in my spare time,
such as playing soccer.”
Having fun while learning about life
is at the heart of Game On!
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“I love sports, but I
can’t play them in my
neighborhood; my dad
says it’s too dangerous….
The program will be
very good for all who
participate; now we have
a place to play sports
in a way that’s fun!”
– Marí a, participant
in Chile
Take Your Place on the Team
Visit a Game On! playing field and you’ll see kids…lots of them.
Running, playing, laughing, exercising, training. Game On! fields are
busy places.
Our staff and volunteers are right in the heart of all the action –
teaching life lessons, imparting lasting values, and just being there for
children and young people who were born without the opportunities a lot
of us take for granted: to have a safe place to play, positive role models
and the chance to be a winner.
Please consider joining the team and becoming a major financial
supporter of the Children International Game On! program today. You’ll
have the opportunity to visit Game On! programs around the world and
participate in activities to see for yourself the impact of the program.
We’re sure you won’t regret it.
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1-800-888-3089 • www.children.org
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