With a shared commitment to using sport for social change, KPI was recently awarded an International Sports Programming Initiative grant from the SportsUnited division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). KPI will implement a two-year project aimed at improving gender equality and leadership skills among Rwandan youth, enhancing cross-cultural
US Ambassador to Rwanda, Erica J. Barks-Ruggles taking part in our Let’s Play Fair program.
understanding between Americans and Rwandans, and inspiring Rwanda’s Olympic aspirations.
The U.S. Ambassador to Rwanda, Erica J. Barks-Ruggles, launched the partnership on October 28, 2015 by visiting the KPI program in Gatagara, Rwanda. Her visit included participation in KPI’s gender equality programming, conversations with KPI Coaches and youth program participants and special remarks to the entire community.
The grant will provide for year-round implementation of Let’s Play Fair, KPI’s flagship gender equity program, weekly LPF Community Day events held every Sunday, large scale Olympic Day events held in Park City Utah and Rwanda and two, 10-day Olympic Day educational and cultural exchange programs held in June 2016 (In Park City, Utah) & June 2017 (in Rwanda).
As part of this program, 8 Rwandan KPI staff members willtravel to the United States in June 2016 and a group of American Olympians will travel to Rwanda in June 2017 to participate in an exchange that will facilitate mutual understanding, respect, and cross cultural learning between countries.