Feb. 21, 2008

LANCASTER, Pa. - Several members of the Franklin & Marshall soccer team and Head Coach Dan Wagner developed a blog to record their experiences surrounding their Diplomatic journey to South Africa. F&M's men's soccer team will travel to Khayelitsha, Cape Town, as part of the F&M Soccer Africa Project, which aims to check the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa.

The F&M Soccer Africa Project was set into motion by Wagner, and is aligned with Grassroot Soccer, a non-profit dedicated to fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa through soccer.

"What people don't realize is so unique about the Grassroot Soccer approach is that soccer is a minimal component," says Wagner. "This is not a sports plus education program, this is an education program, plus sports."

Wagner, and a soccer entourage of 52 others, will depart for Khayelitsha on Friday, March 14. The team will work with youths impacted by the disease to educate them about the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and will share their soccer skills and a bevy of donated soccer equipment and gear.

The players will also see the future site of the Christopher T. Campbell Memorial Soccer Complex, which will be built in honor of their teammate who passed away a day prior to the squad's 2007 report date. The F&M Soccer Africa Project has raised over $120,000 USD for the complex, approximately half of what is needed to make the complex a reality. The project raised an additional $30,000 to pay for the trip and the transport of donated items.

While traveling, Wagner, Matt McCall, Josh Wirtshafter, and Charlie Welch will share their experiences and photographs from Khayelitsha.

"It is our responsibility to share what we learn on this trip," said Wagner. "We have been afforded the opportunity to shed light on the daily struggles of children and teenagers impacted by a wretched, but preventable disease. We are building a vehicle that will turn the tide in one community, but the hope is that our work will inspire others to help in other communities."

The blog can be found at: http://www.soccerafricaproject.blogspot.com/