Press
For media inquiries, please contact Jason Arruda
jasonjarruda@gmail.com
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July 9, 2008 — Opportunitas Aequa Announces Project Rwanda Phase One
Opportunitas Aequa - www.oaprojects.org
For Immediate Release
Opportunitas Aequa is excited to announce that Project Rwanda will be launched this summer. Between July 14th and August 15th, OA will be in Kigali, Rwanda under taking an expansive project (Details Below). Originally planned for 2009, OA decided to move the project dates forward an entire year after completing a month-long needs assessment trip in April. During this trip, project directors Duncan Penn and Gavin Hollett were blown away by the power that soccer has on a country where almost 40% of the population is 14 or under and 600,000 of those are orphans.
OA has raised nearly $21,000 in the last month, leaving the project budget short approximately $2,500. OA still needs donors and individuals to partner with them to ensure that this phase of the project has the greatest impact it can on the children and communities in Rwanda.
To donate:
by credit card and to receive a tax-receipt; visit www.projectrwanda.givemeaning.com
by cheque:
Oportunitas Aequa
1520 Westall ave.,
Victoria, BC, V8T 2G7
Additionally, daily blog posts and photos from the project, and video journals will be posted throughout the project allowing everyone to follow along every step of the way. OA Website: www.oaprojects.org
Details of Project Rwanda Phase 1
Dates: July 14th to August 15th, 2008
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Expected outreach: 1,000 children and youth
Main Activities:
1. Enable the re-construction of 1 Eco-friendly field
2. Run a week-long soccer camp for 88 orphans, at the Rebero Orphan Center in Kigali
3. Provide resource support to school and community soccer programs that are for both girls and boys and that use soccer to teach ‘higher-level’ messages, such as; gender equality, reconciliation and HIV/AIDS awareness.
4. Provide FairTrade shoes to the 88 children and youth of the Rebero Orphan Center.
5. Identify future sites and partner organizations for phases 2 and 3.
For more information please contact CEO Gavin Hollett: gavinhollett@gmail.com
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January 4, 2008 — Opportunitas Aequa Looks To 2008 After A Great 2007
Victoria, BC, Canada – Opportunitas Aequa (OA) has much to be proud of when looking back on 2007. OA enjoyed great success, last year, in a number of ways.
First, In February and March, after almost a year of fundraising and collecting new and used soccer equipment, OA was able to deliver over 1350 balls, 850 pairs of cleats and runners, $20,000 worth of school uniforms, and a variety of other soccer-related equipment to the children and the communities of Chimborazo. In addition to the delivery of the equipment, over $12,000 USD was brought into the local economy through the construction of a soccer field, the re-construction of another, and the distribution of the equipment. In addition, OA is continuing to support those that they met in Chimborazo.
Locally, this past summer, OA put on a free soccer camp in conjunction with the Fernwood Community Centre. Boys and girls, aged approximately 4-12, participated in a week long camp, which culminated in Saturday-long round-robin tournament. The kids were given t-shirts, refreshments, and a brand new ball to take home. Local sponsors provided everything.
Now, in the early days of 2008, OA is looking to its newest challenge, Project Rwanda. Information about Project Rwanda can be found at http://oaprojects.org/oas-project-rwanda/
Looking to kick the year off with a positive, OA will be hosting another charity soccer event. The OA charity soccer matches allow participants of various ages and skill levels to enjoy the beautiful game for a worthy, relevant cause.
The first charity match of 2008 takes place on Sunday, January 6th, 4:15pm at the University of Victoria Turf Field. Participants, all of whom have made donations, have been placed into teams and will participate in a tournament-style format.
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October 1, 2007 — Opportunitas Aequa launches new website
Victoria, BC, Canada – Opportunitas Aequa (OA) has re-launched on the internet with a new website. The new address is www.oaprojects.org.
The OA website has been reworked in order to be more user-friendly and interactive. The new site will serve as the contact
point for OA’s supporters and will provide an active source of information.
“We really wanted something that will be a portal of information for our message and a place for our supporters to see what we are doing,” said Gavin Hollett, CEO.
“I tried to create something that would entice people to visit on a regular basis. We will provide regular blog posts, podcasts, and other media — like photos — to let everyone see our efforts move from the websites to the worksites.” said Evan Peterson,
webmaster.
The site is available with many features for people to interact and keep up to date with OA and will feature blogs, video messages, and photos from OA.
Media Contact:
Jason Arruda
Public Relations and Communications Liaison
jasonjarruda@gmail.com
See the OA website: www.oaprojects.org
