The program will use organized soccer to help improve adolescent health in Africa.

WESTPORT, Conn. (March 18, 2009) — Save the Children announced today that it is teaming up with the Seattle Sounders FC and Soccer Saves, an exciting new initiative that will use the power of soccer to help adolescents in Africa lead healthier lives.

The Soccer Saves program will build upon Save the Children's proven success in helping adolescents access reproductive and sexual health information and services. Supportive coaches and adults will help increase the quality and quantity of HIV prevention information. Youth-friendly health services will provide greater accessibility to voluntary counseling and HIV testing. And young people who are most at risk will be empowered to help reduce the spread of HIV.  

An Ethiopian boy participating in a Save the Children program plays with a soccer ball. Credit: Jenny Matthews, Save the Children

"Soccer Saves is based on the belief that young people in Africa can take charge of their future, lead healthy lives and change the course of the HIV epidemic," said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children. "With the support of Soccer Saves and through the medium of the beautiful game, adolescents and youth will have access to information and services that will help them better understand the threats to their well-being and how to avoid them."

Youth are at the center of the global HIV epidemic: They account for more than 50 percent of all new infections. However, pregnancy is still the leading cause of death for young women ages 15 through 19 around the world.

"Young people possess the greatest potential for change," said MacCormack. "We know from experience that adolescents can avoid HIV and early pregnancy with guidance from caring adults, comprehensive health education and access to confidential reproductive health services. They can learn new behaviors that could save their lives."

Work will begin this year in Ethiopia, where Save the Children has been assisting high-risk youth — including school drop-outs, street youth, vulnerable girls and unemployed young people — in 21 towns and four regions of the country. It will expand to other countries on the African continent over the coming years.

View the Soccer Saves video on our YouTube Channel.

Read The Seattle Times story on Soccer Saves.

Save the Children is the leading, independent organization creating lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. For more than 75 years, Save the Children has been helping children survive and thrive by improving their health, education and economic opportunities and, in times of acute crisis, mobilizing lifesaving assistance to help children recover from the effects of war, conflict and natural disasters. For more information, visit: www.savethechildren.org