Just Like You International Sports Exchange will be holding a Global Playground Event this Saturday at the San Fernando Valley Boys and Girls Club in Pacoima.  For those who might wonder what Just Like You is and what this event is all about, I managed to track down Co-Founder, Jerry Darko by phone in the middle of a busy work week:

Some tidbits about Jerry:

Born in Zimbabwe, grew up in Botswana.

Is an active member of YouthNoise Play City and the Co-Founder of Just Like You International Sports Exchange.

In order to start a non-profit like Just Like You, you need to have a vision, and our boy Jerry has a grand vision:

Just Like You's Mission Statement:

Promoting international awareness among youth through sport, laying the necessary foundation to create tomorrow's global citizens.

Jerry added to that:

"Getting kids to think about the world they live in starting at a young age.  Their role as human beings on this earth and the things they can do to change the world for better.  The one thing that all children have in common is play.  There is not just one way to do it, and when you can put yourself in another person's shoes(or bare feet) you can get a better understanding of people and cultures outside of your own."

Sounds pretty visionary to me.

Just Like You launched in August of 2008 and began as an idea among a group of about seven people deemed "Team Awesome."

"We were doing a Nike Play City Training Camp when I threw out the idea of a Sports Exchange where I would teach kids some of the games that I grew up playing in Botswana and everyone got super excited about it," exclaimed Jerry.

A month after launching Just Like You, the team came up with a curriculum that was instituted at about 5 elementary schools in South Los Angeles and the Valley as well as two Boys and Girls Clubs.

The after school program covers one region (anywhere from Africa, to Australia) for about four weeks.  During those four weeks, students will learn about the language, the culture, and the different way kids play in those regions.

"We've collected games from over 25 countries and have developed a curriculum for about six regions.  Chinese, African, Indian, Middle Eastern Countries like Iran, Australian, Japanese, Hawaiian, and Native American games have been played just to name a few," Jerry explains.

But it doesn't end there.  This year, Just Like You is going even bigger by developing summer programs for when kids are out of school, as well as expanding out of Los Angeles and into Orange and San Bernadino counties.  The curriculum has also extended beyond play.

They have developed a Young Diplomats Program, in which students take on the role of being representatives of their country and essentially become part of a Youth United Nations.  They've also taken it one step further by not just keeping it in the schools.  By having Global Playground Events (the 1st one is this Saturday), they're bringing that message out of the classroom and into the community.

"Not only do we want students to learn about the different places and people in the world, we want them to go out there and take action," says Jerry.  "Just Like You goes beyond just sports, with Diversity Training and Team Building starting at an early age. Something that you can take from school and apply to your life after school whether it be for work or any other activism projects you might venture into."

The results are apparent after only a year of this program's existence, Jerry beams:

"We've definitely made an impact in terms of health and nutrition.  Just Like You shows kids that they can make even more use of their playground space...With the monotony of handball and four square, I've checked in with some of the schools and see that the kids are having just as much fun playing the Chinese playground game they just learned.  We're promoting healthy activities, encouraging students to go outside, there's so many ways to play."
 
It is also leaving a lasting impression on the students that participate:

"I was talking to one of the parents about our event this week on the phone and when their child recognized that I was on the phone, they said 'Hello' to me in Setswana.  I was blown away!" Jerry laughed.

"These kids are learning basic phrases like Hello, How are you?, I Love You, in five or six different languages and thats even further evidence that they're getting something out of this program."

Just Like You is truly promoting International Awareness, something that kids aren't necessarily exposed to right off the bat during their grade school years.  The event this Saturday will be covering a lot of that and Jerry filled me in on what we can expect:

- Recreating a space that represents the world we live in.

- Each kid in attendance will be given a passport that will allow them to travel to different regions in that space collecting stamps and playing a sport from each region.

- There will be live music, including a Mariachi Band.

- Evian Water has sponsored the event and will be providing the refreshments to keep everyone hydrated.

- There will be health-conscious snacks and fruits available.

- Local Public Officials will be speaking at the event.

- You can meet the collaborators behind Just Like You and interact with them.

So for everyone in the Los Angeles/So Cal area, please drop by and be part of Just Like You Int'l Sports Exchange's First Global Playground Event:

Saturday, September 12, 2009

10am-2pm

Boys and Girls Club of San Fernando Valley
11251 Glenoaks Blvd
Pacoima, CA

Don't be afraid to use GoogleMaps!

You can also find out about Jerry's partner in crime behind this event, Anne Marie Herwig.

Hope to see all of you soon!