Tracy Helps Launch Sport & Education Initiative in Africa
Tracy attended the 2nd Annual Peace & Sport Forum held under the high patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Tracy shakes hands with Mr. Marcelino Macome,
NOC President from Mozambique
WOA President Dick Fosbury, Tracy Mattes &
Wilfried Lemke, UN Advisor to the Secretary General
on Sport for Development & PeaceIn Monaco, Tracy once again wore two hats at the conference, one as UN Special Representative and one as Director of Global Programs for the World Olympians Association (WOA). The main purpose for attending the forum, along with WOA President Dick Fosbury, was to launch a sport and education plan with the UN office on Sport for Development & Peace, the United Nations World Tourism Organization ST-EP foundation, the World Olympians Association, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), and the OlympAfrica Foundation.
The agreement is to collaborate on the building of Libraries on the 30+ IOC supported OlympAfrica Youth Sport centers around the continent of Africa. The primary mission of this THANK YOU SMALL LIBRARY (TYSL) partnership is to enhance educational opportunities for children in under developed countries in Africa. TYSL accomplishes this goal by providing funds and assistance to establish library facilities and services within OlympAfrica Sport & Youth Centers. As a partner, the WOA will hire Olympians to work at the libraries serving as a role model to the youth and providing employment for Olympians in their communities. The library and youth center programs offered will include: academic enhancement, reading skills, health education, mentorship by Olympians, job skill development, physical fitness, sports & recreation, and family time.
Photos: (1) Prince Albert II of Monaco speaks about Peace & Sport, (2) Tracy and Monaco USA President Mike Powers at the opening Gala, (3) Tracy with WOA President Dick Fosbury as he signs the Agreement at the Forum, (4) Tracy with Wilfried Lemke, UN Advisor to the Secretary General on Sport for Development & Peace after he signed the agreement at the Hermitage Hotel in Monaco, (5) Tracy and Outward Bound Secretary General Judy Churchill at the Peace and Sport Forum
Tracy is very proud of this initiative saying so much success has been made since UNWTO ST-EP Chairman Ambassador Dho Young Shim launched the pilot program at last year's inaugural Peace & Sport Forum. "A year ago we had an idea and a pilot plan for 2 libraries, which we presented at last year's forum", says Mattes, "now after a lot of work, more than 40 libraries now exist in underdeveloped countries, and we just signed a cooperative agreement to create 31 more on the OlympAfrica Youth Centers throughout Africa. I am very proud to be part of this initiative. We turned words into concrete actions. One of the things that UN ST-EP chairman Ambassador Dho is so diligent about is showing results and actions. We don't want to just get together and talk about what we want to do; we actually get out there in the trenches and do it. Just to see the excitement on the faces of these children make it all worthwhile. It's why I am involved. I am constantly being inspired by these kids."
TYSL will also provide solar lighting so that the library users will be able to read even after dark. Tracy handed out solar flashlights as gifts from the UNWTO ST-EP Foundation to the participants at the Peace and Sport Forum. Tracy also gave a number of solar flashlights to Outward Bound Monaco Secretary General Judy Churchill to use for their upcoming Outward Bound course in Monaco. Tracy is proud to be a committee member of Outward Bound Monaco. Click here to see the entire Outward Bound Monaco Team and their upcoming initiatives.
You can see many more photos of the event and learn more about the Sport & Education program by clicking on the following news links:
