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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
More than 500 children in Matabeleland North’s Bubi District have subscribed to the Grassroot Soccer whose objective is to educate them on adolescence and health issues through soccer.

The organisation which is working in collaboration with English Premiership side, the Arsenal Foundation, has managed to transform lives of many children in the province.

The schools so far involved are Esiphikeni, Somvubu and Makhosini secondary schools.

According to Grassroot Soccer communications officer, Nompumelelo Bhebhe, the objective of the programme is to give rural children, especially from remote areas, a voice.

“The programme has managed to awaken the minds of young people in the region. Health now has meaning to each of them.

“They realise that in order to develop a healthy future, they need to change behaviour. The young people taking part in this programme are seeing a brighter light to the issues surrounding their health and they are grateful to have been enlightened on issues they had very little knowledge before such as HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases,” said Bhebhe.

She said plans were underway to spread to all parts of the country so that children have a platform to learn about health issues and other challenges they face.

“We will soon spread to Manicaland and Mashonaland provinces,” she said.

Bhebhe also hailed the support they get from the Arsenal Foundation.

“We are more than proud and excited to be collaborating with such a huge brand which has a very positive impact on our programme,” said Bhebhe.