Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors visit Ghana
Order of Canada recipient Clara Hughes leads delegation along with Brydon, Hollingsworth, Omischl
Canadian Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors Clara Hughes (long track speed skating), Emily Brydon (alpine skiing), Mellisa Hollingsworth (skeleton), and Steve Omischl (aerials skiing) are traveling to Ghana where they will visit and interact with children in Right To Play programs, April 6-11.
The four winter athletes, all coming off outstanding 2007-08 seasons internationally in their respective disciplines, will visit Right To Play project locations in Accra, Tamale, and Bolga in Northern Ghana. They will learn how Right To Play addresses a number of key educational challenges in Ghana, including school retention (in particular for girls), quality of learning resources, gender equality and inclusion, and effective HIV and AIDS preventative education.
This will be the second Right To Play trip overseas for Hughes, who visited project locations in Ethiopia in 2006 as part of Right To Play’s International Athlete Forum.
“I’m thrilled to return to the field again with Right To Play to see first hand the power and influence of the programs in action,” said Hughes, named an Officer of the Order of Canada in December, 2007, in part for her work with Right To Play. “The opportunity to share this experience with such a phenomenal group of winter sport athletes will surely generate experiences and motivation that will make the difference as we each strive for the podium in 2010. There is nothing like witnessing the power of sport and play change the lives of children to gain both perspective and motivation.”
The cost of the trip for the four athletes will be funded in part by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), as part of CIDA’s support of Right To Play’s domestic awareness initiatives. CIDA is generously supporting Right To Play’s work overseas with a three-year, $2.9 million commitment to Right To Play’s activities in Benin, Ghana, Mali and Rwanda. Athlete Ambassador trips to the field such as this one provide athletes with first-hand experience of Right To Play’s work, and are an important source of inspiration for both the athletes and children in Right To Play’s programs.
After winning a gold medal at the 2006 Turin Olympics, Hughes donated $10,000 of her own money to Right To Play and challenged Canadian individuals and corporations to give what they could. This incredible gesture raised more than $430,000 for Right To Play’s programs and gave an unprecedented boost to Right To Play’s awareness in Canada.
Beginning today, individuals and corporations can keep that legacy alive by donating to Right To Play at righttoplay.com/ghanatrip2008 in the name of Clara Hughes, Emily Brydon, Mellisa Hollingsworth and Steve Omischl. Donations can also be made by sending a cheque made out to Right To Play, with ‘Ghana Trip’ in the subject line, to: Right To Play, 468 Queen St. E., LL1, Toronto, ON, M5A 1T7.
About Right To Play
Right To Play is an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Working in both the humanitarian and development contexts, Right To Play trains local community leaders as Coaches to deliver our programs in more than 20 countries affected by war, poverty, and disease in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 2003, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has national offices in Canada, Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The national offices raise funds, build awareness for Right To Play programs and advocate for sport for development. For more information visit www.righttoplay.ca.
Contact:
Simon Ibell
Right To Play
416.203.0190, ext. 205
