Botswana Baylor Adolescent Program

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UI frisbee team puts on “hat tournament” to raise money for Africa

*For more information about our 2011 Fundraising Drive,

please visit our Donations page.*

The following article (excluding pictures), written by Emily Bayci, appeared in the University of Illinois independent student newspaper, The Daily Illini March 28th, 2011…

To play Ultimate Frisbee, all it takes is one disc, about 11 inches wide. Some supplies can be added, such as cones or cleats, but the sport’s simplicity is what creates the worldwide draw.

During Peter Butzen’s time in the Peace Corps, he realized how easy it was to introduce the game to teenagers in foreign countries. Specifically, when he began working with the Teen Club — a psychological peer support group for young HIV-positive teenagers — in Gaborone, Botswana, he saw the simple sport could give the teenagers something positive to focus on.

“The game takes even less equipment than soccer and no ref is needed,” Butzen said. “Anyone can play it anywhere. It is great exercise and teaches sportsmanship better than any game I can think of.”

Butzen eventually came up with an idea: introduce Ultimate to the Teen Club. Needing more funding to support his goals, he decided to contact his friends in the U.S. who played the game.

He spoke to Pavan Sarguru, a member of Prion (the co-ed club Ultimate team at Illinois) and an alumnus of the men’s club team. Sarguru instantly thought of a tournament Ultimate teams used to put on, the Illinois Hat Tournament. He introduced the idea of bringing back the tournament, making it a combined effort with Prion and the Illinois men’s team to raise money for the Teen Club in Botswana and the men’s club team. The “hat tournament” concept means teams are comprised randomly, or drawn from a hat. The way the Illini will do this is by organizing the participants in categories of experienced Ultimate players and newcomers.

“There’s a camaraderie that comes from Ultimate that everybody who plays just understands,” Sarguru said. “There’s something about having the common understanding of playing a sport that’s different and fun, not because there’s any sort of recognition or because there’s any sustainable future in playing the game.”

The players were enthusiastic to help with the tournament and spread the word about the sport.

“I wish I could have been involved with Ultimate sooner, and to be able to help people who need something to care about would be great,” said Jonathan Hatcher, tournament director from the men’s club team.

Anyone can sign up to participate in the tournament. The funds raised from the $15 entry fee will be split between the men’s club team and purchasing rule books, discs and cones for the Teen Club. The goal is to give every participant in the Teen Club their own disc.

It’s not only money the groups want to raise, but awareness about how a simple disc can bring people together from different countries and help people grow in many different aspects.

“Playing Ultimate in Teen Club will make them part of a team, and encourage socialization rather than reinforce self-stigmatization,” Butzen said. “And having the connection with University of Illinois will show them a world beyond Gabs (Gaborone) and HIV.”

Tournament Website: http://www.illinoishat.com/

Original Article can be found at:  http://www.dailyillini.com/sports/2011/03/28/ui-frisbee-team-puts-on-hat-tournament-to-raise-money-for-africa

BAYLOR AND BEYOND – Unforgettable Adventure and Engaging Repartee

Younger Teens read clues as they search around Baylor

*For more information about our 2011 Fundraising Drive,

please visit our Donations page.*

The following post is courtesy of  Stuart J. Sia, Peace Corps Volunteer:

For the month of March, members of Teen Club expanded their purview far beyond the confines of Baylor Clinic.

Our younger members took part in an exciting scavenger hunt, an adventuresome experience many of them had never before heard of. The scavenger hunt took them all over Princess Marina Hospital to search for important noteworthy places with nothing save for a sheet of clues at hand. Our kids were triumphant and singly tackled each and every one of those clues, hardly breaking a sweat. Using their brilliant minds and with a little bit of help, of course, from the volunteers, each group arrived back at home base (Baylor Clinic) safe and sound, more fit and even more knowledgeable than before. It was an adventure I suspect many if not all of them will remember for a long time.

As for our older members, Model SADC (Southern African Development Community) expanded their purview far beyond Gaborone and even Botswana taking a look at an issue affecting all of us as southern Africans and residents of southern Africa. In light of the events taking place in Libya, the youth were asked to reflect on the current state of Zimbabwe and whether or not SADC has a right and/or responsibility to intervene. Breaking up into small groups, each group was assigned a member-country of SADC and delegated the challenging task of determining a course of action most beneficial to its given country. Walking around hearing the engaging discussion and debate going on within each of the committees, I was impressed with their ability to synthesize what they were learning about each of their respective member-countries.

After each group had agreed upon an appropriate response to the Zimbabwe crisis, we reconvened in the main room. Representatives from each group shared the decision they had made in committee and briefly explained the rationale behind the decision. Some youth chose to speak in English, while others spoke in Setswana. Irrespective of the language they spoke in, they all made their voices heard, and made compelling and eloquent arguments. Ultimately, our Model SADC arrived at the conclusion that SADC should indeed intervene in Zimbabwe, though there was admittedly disagreement as to how intervention should be approached.

I think something we can all agree on was that this day was a unique learning experience. It is not often that any of us are asked to walk in someone else’s shoes or see through someone else’s lenses. Having broadened their horizons, members of Teen Club are now even more prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow.