Last week was a long but rewarding 5 days as we held our Training of Coaches Seminar (TOC). After spending the previous few weeks recruiting and interviewing potential coaches throughout Soweto, we decided on a final 20 who would become the newest members of our GRS Soweto team.
Throughout the week the new coaches and staff took part in a series of activities the included team building, HIV/AIDS education, facilitation skills, how to hold a vital conversation, referrals, and learning how to effectively deliver our curriculum.
Although we certainly put in some long days, the week was especially rewarding for me since I had had the opportunity to interview all of the coaches. To see how much some of them grew and came out of their box within just the span of a week was pretty amazing to see. It was the first time I had been on the opposite side of the desk during an interview. The experience made me realize that while an interview can be helpful in determining whether or not someone is qualified for a position, you really won’t know what that person is capable of until you spend a significant amount of time with them.
While Grassroot Soccer’s primary focus is providing kids throughout Africa with the life skills they need to make safe healthy choices, the transformation undergone by many of the coaches during their tenures with GRS is no less significant. They become more confident in themselves and their abilities, become role models in their communities, become part of a family that will always support them whether they remain with the organization or not.
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