New Partnership between U of O and Kenya through dispute resolution and sports
On May 4, 2009, Tim Hicks, Director of the University of Oregon’s Master Program in Conflict and Dispute Resolution, will present a gift of donated athletic gear to a Kenyan soccer academy, SACRENA, while he visits Kisumu, Kenya in preparation for two University of Oregon internships in the area. The gear is being collected for donation by O Heroes and the Competition Not Conflict Project (CnC).
These two groups, together with the International Studies Department, IE3 ? a global internship organization, the Raymund Fund, and the Savage Chair, are joining forces to support SACRENA through student internship and exchange opportunities, international research and support, and potentially much more.
“Sports can provide wonderful tools in helping youth learn the values of team building and resolving conflicts. Sports, at SACRENA, is used as a conflict resolution technique that helps youth discover how to act under pressure, learn by error and accept victory or defeat with dignity,” said Keevan Labowitz, a graduate student in the Conflict and Dispute Resolution Program who will intern in Kisumu next summer.
“I feel blessed that I can contribute to a good cause through donating some of my old lacrosse gear to children who share the passion of sport,” senior lacrosse player, ANNA POPONYAK.
O Heroes will be collecting gear from student-athletes and athletic department staff between April 15th and May 2nd. Collection bins will be located throughout the athletic department including at the nutrition bar, in the Student-Athlete Development Office, and at Services for Student-Athletes next to MAC Court. The final day of the collection will take place at the Moshofsky Center during the spring festival. Please come to the official exchange ceremony at 2pm at the Moshofsky Center, May 2nd during the athletic department’s Spring Festival.
SACRENA’s mission is to use sports as a tool and means of advocating and disseminating messages on health, education and life skills to youths in four low-income communities in the Kisumu area.
O Heroes is a non-profit community organization supported by the University Of Oregon Department Of Intercollegiate Athletics. The goal of O Heroes is to create a single identity for all community service initiatives and to see involvement from all student-athletes, staff, faculty, and campus community. Service is one aspect of three areas in which student-athletes feel they are able to excel. The other areas are health and education. www.goducks.com
CnC is an initiative through the University of Oregon Law School with a mission to reduce destructive conflict in sport and to promote the positive values of competition. www.competitionnotconflict.com
CONTACT PERSON: TORI KLEIN, 541-514-0117
