2007年VOA标准英语-Global Development Through Sports Program Launc

By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
11 February 2007

Multiple gold medalist and track legend, Michael Johnson, runs with children in Nakulabye, a suburbs in Ugandan capital Kampala (File)

A global program to promote development through sports has been launched in Kenya, with a national youth sports tournament in the capital Nairobi Saturday and Sunday. Cathy Majtenyi attended the event, and files this report for VOA.

Sweat pours off the faces of the volleyball players, as they spike¹ the ball across the net.

Nearby, two teams are battling it out in a fast-paced football game.

Several hundred teenagers and young adults from cities, towns and villages across Kenya were in Nairobi for the launch of the Sport for Social Change program.

The program has been developed by CARE USA, with support from the sports company NIKE, the Swiss Academy for Development and other partners.

CARE's Sport for Social Change project director Wayne Lifshitz explains the goal of the initiative.

"The real purpose of the program is to capitalize on the draw of sport, and do relief and development programs with a sport flavor. It changes the way you deliver the message, where you can be more engaging with the youth and with women, because you're empowering them in a different way," said Lifshitz.

Lifshitz says that, at an event like the Nairobi sports tournament, CARE or another organization could discuss maternal² and child health issues with mothers coming to watch their children play, or have the mothers themselves participate in events as a way of building their self-confidence and standing³ in the community.

Millicent Obaso, the HIV/AIDS adviser⁴ for CARE International in East and Central Africa, says the aim of this particular sports tournament is to increase gender⁵ equality and HIV/AIDS awareness⁶ among Kenyan youth.

"We have 11 soccer teams of girls. That is great empowerment for young girls, because, in this country, soccer is a male game, and, when girls play it, they say, 'hey, I can do it!' But if you can do it in soccer, you can also say no to sex, and when you say no, you mean no," she said.

Obaso explains that there is a team of counselors⁷ at the event who are on hand to talk to the young people about issues that concern them. The youth are also able to interact with local corporate⁸ sponsors to get advice on how to start different careers.

At the event is a row of tents, where people can be tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and get counseling.

Volleyball player and 21-year-old university student Zipporah Nyanchera tells VOA she plans to take an HIV test some time during the two-day event.

She explains why she and her friends came to the sports tournament.

"Among Kenyan youth, we need to know whatever that we want in life, and especially when we are in school, we need to get to know about the social behaviors that we are supposed to avoid, and the ones that we are supposed to strengthen in," said Nyanchera. "That is why this social change is of a paramount⁹ importance. And, we youth in Kenya, we have a very vital role to play."

Organizers say sports events can also draw people in who would otherwise be isolated¹⁰.

Two of the sports teams at the Nairobi tournament come from the Dadaab refugee camp near the Somali border. Normally, refugees living in camps are not allowed to leave the settlements, but an exception has been made in this case.

The Dadaab volleyball team is made up of girls, something that is virtually unheard of in traditional Somali society.

NIKE official Maria Bobnenrieth tells VOA that her company worked closely with the girls to encourage them to participate in sports, and to design uniforms that are culturally appropriate.

"It covers their face. There's long sleeves on it. There's holes for their thumbs, so they have the option of putting their thumbs in the holes and having their wrists covered. There's a long pant underneath¹¹, and then, over it, is a kind of long dress. It's made of T-shirt [material], so it's quite light," said Bobnenrieth.

Organizers say preparations are under way to set up the Sport for Social Change program in South Africa, Brazil and other countries. Those involved in the program in Kenya say they plan to also bring it to rural areas of the country.

1 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

2 maternal   

adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的

参考例句：

• He is my maternal uncle.他是我舅舅。
• The sight of the hopeless little boy aroused her maternal instincts.那个绝望的小男孩的模样唤起了她的母性。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

5 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

6 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

7 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

8 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

9 paramount   

a.最重要的，最高权力的

参考例句：

• My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国，摧毁奴隶制度。
• Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。

10 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

11 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。