As some of you already know, In August, I will be heading to Cape Town, South Africa to begin a year-long volunteer position with the organization, Grassroot Soccer.  I am incredibly excited to begin this next phase of my life, but before I go I'm going to need some help.  As this is a volunteer position, it's on me to raise enough money to subsidize my living expenses for the next year.  I have some money saved up from graduation and from my job at Salt & Smoke, but as for the rest, that's where I'll need the support of friends, family, acquaintances, and very generous strangers. 

The mission of Grassroot Soccer is to utilize the universal language of soccer as a way to educate, inspire, and mobilize youth in developing countries--mainly African countries--to live healthy lives and prevent the spread of HIV.  My particular role in the organization will be within their Partnerships Team, which works with a range of global organizations, including the US Peace Corps, to implement GRS curricula and prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS around Africa and around the globe.

According to the 2015 UNAIDS Fact Sheet, there are between 24.0 million and 28.7 million people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, and this represents about 70% of total infections worldwide.  More than 1.3 million youth have graduated from GRS adolescent health programs, and GRS programs have been proven to significantly lower young people’s risk of contracting HIV. 

To raise awareness for the mission of Grassroot Soccer and, of course, to promote my fundraising campaign, I am planning to hike 287 miles of the Appalachian Trail from mid-June to mid-July.  I chose 287 miles to represent the upwards of 28.7 million people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, and also because I think it should about 4 weeks to complete.  I will send updates of my whereabouts and experiences throughout the hike via social media and on my blog (http://neramyf.blogspot.co.za). Hopefully my efforts will inspire support and donations from now until I leave for Cape Town on August 1. 


For more information on Grassroot Soccer or on what I'll be doing there, feel free to reach out to me, visit their website, or check out this short video.



If you donate through gofundme, the funds will go directly to my bank account, but if you would like to donate through Grassroot Soccer and recieve a tax receipt, contact me and I can let you know how to do that.

Thanks so much for taking the time to check out my fundraising page! Any dollar amount will help and I will be forever grateful for your support!