So i wrote this kind of as a report for our VAC committee in country as a success story, thats why its in 3rd person. I dont actually think im cool enough to talk in 3rd person about myself. Also, sorry it has been so long since i have written, and the quality (literal writing quality) is not good in this one. I pounded it out cause it was due the next morning.
On April 30 and May 1st, the Sport and Culture Progress of Sisian NGO organized the 1st "Kick The Habit" Anti-smoking/Importance of Exercising, Mini-Football Tournament in Sisian. This tournament was organized by PCV Alex Lord, with the help of Davit Hambardzumy
an, Director of the NGO and Alex's CP. It was for boys and girls, and they were divided into 2 age groups: 9-12, 13-15. We used a field that was constructed by the Armenian Football Federation in 2007, which they built for the Sisian Community. This field is a mini-football field, allowing each team to have 4 players on the field, and 3 substitutes waiting. The turn-out was great.
We advertised to all Sisian schools, as well as over a dozen Villages surrounding Sisian. The feedback was enormous, and we had over 20 teams participate in the event: 19 boys teams, and 3 girls teams. That is over 154 Sisian youth that played, participated, and was educated on the Anti-Smoking and Importance of Exercise information we were handing out. They were from multiple villages, as well as over a dozen different schools.
We also had an Armenia vs America game where PCV's Alex Lord, Tylor Dodge, Alex Schellhaus, Joel Gillen, and Bill Simonson all played against an Armenian team. The final score was a tie between the 2 nations: 11-11. The other PCV's were in attendance because they were helping organize, referee, hand out educational materials, and register teams. Also in Attendance was the Sisian Mayor, Sisian Football Coach, over a half a dozen local teachers, as well as over 150 spectating children, in addition to the 154 playing in the tournament. This event was so successful, we have been asked to repeat the event every year, and multiple times a year if possible.
"I think the best part for me was when I saw the girls teams playing. I think this was the first time in these girls' lives they have ever played an organized, real game of football with a referee, and most importantly without any boys on the field. They looked so happy, next time we are going to organize a tournament for only girls." Alex Lord
The winners of each division received a certificate of participation for each player, and each team received a trophy for winning their division.
