Taste of Africa 2017

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About Open Field

Location:

6401 Penn Ave, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15206, US

Mission Statement

Our mission is to improve the lives and futures of youth through sport. Our sport-based programming creates a safe space for youth to play and learn, with an educational topic connected to every practice and game. Youth participants take on leadership roles as coaches, referees, and mentors to their peers. Youth emerge from our programs with new skills to succeed in school and in the workforce.

Description

Open Field, (formerly known as CameroonFDP) was founded in 2010 to fill a void in social infrastructure in Southwest Cameroon by implementing sport-based educational programs using soccer to focus on leadership, life skills, and health education. A registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, CameroonFDP is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is supported by FIFA Football for Hope. Our Super Cup to Develop Leaders and Super Cup to Empower Girls, regional soccer comptitions held in 2015 and 2016 respectively, created life-changing experiences for about 150 boys and girls and engaged hundreds more in educational soccer-centric programs.

In 2016, Open Field began working to create a sustainable sport for development model to replicate and scale. We call this model PLAY4PURPOSE and it integrates health, education, and employment into the game of soccer. PLAY4PURPOSE Match Day connects 7 core values with 7 pre and post-game activities. Teams are awarded points for demonstrating understanding of the values and knowledge about the topic of the day. Values include punctuality/preparedness, respect, fair play, team work, good sportsmanship, being a role model, and community engagement. Activities include warm-ups using educational games, players answering questions from the referee, team captains reading "motivational statements" to spectators, and monitoring the behaviour of coaches and players on and off the field. We don't just play. We Play. Lead. Inspire.