Youngsters in poverty-riddled Zambia have been enjoying opportunities to play a variety of sports, thanks to receiving much-needed sports equipment through the Global Gear Drive.

 

The Global Gear Drive, created by the National Alliance For Youth Sports, collects new and used youth sports equipment that it distributes to underprivileged children around the world.

 

"People are beginning to look at sports from a different perspective," says Clement Mubanga Chileshe, the Sport in Action coordinator. "We've ignited something that we haven't seen in Zambia before."

 

Sport in Action is one of several groups that comprise Kicking AIDS Out!, an international network of organizations working together to use sport and physical activity as a means to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and motivate behavioral changes among youngsters.

 

"I am one of the players in the Sport in Action under 12 football team," wrote Peter Lungu. "I love soccer and thank you for giving me the sports attire and the balls. You have helped me to play soccer with joy and happiness. Thank you for giving me this attire because it has made me happy and my parents are happy too. Thank you very much. May the Good Lord be with all for the good job you are doing."

 

In recent months several shipments of sports equipment have been sent to Zambia, as well as other regions of the world.