Clara Hughes and Adam Van Koeverden Represent Right to Play

Clara Hughes and Adam Van Koeverden are athletic ambassadors for the Canadian branch of the nonprofit organization, Right to Play. Right to Play believes that every child, no matter where they were born should have the opportunity to play and just be a kid. More formally, “Right to Play is the leading international humanitarian and development organization using the power of sport and play to build essential skills in children and thereby drive social change in communities affected by war, poverty and disease.”

The project that Hughes and Van Koeverden are involved with focuses on Mali, in West Africa. Mali is one of the most disadvantaged counties in the world because the average life expectancy is only forty-eight years old, the adult literacy rate is 19% and the most staggering fact is that merely 50% of children have access to basic education. These statistics paint a bleak picture, one that Right to Play is hoping to help change through their motto of  “breaking the cycle of poverty through sport and play.”

The program in Mali has four main objectives, which are: empower girls, improve hygiene, prevent HIV/AIDS and teach leadership. The objectives that Right to Play has set forth will help address the issues that face the children of Mali and thereby their families. Help never occurs in a vacuum, and by helping children they are helping to build stronger communities. The fundraising goal of this initiative it is $60,000, because the Canadian government is committed to matching the donation and multiplying that to raise a total $240,000.

By having the likes of Hughes and Van Koeverden representing the charity they will bring in much needed attention and donations. Hughes is not new to being the face of a campaign as the Canadian six-time Olympic medalist was the spokesperson for Bell’s Let’s Talk Day. Let’s Talk was an initiative to help spread the word and break the stigma associated with mental illness and depression.

Van Koeverden has worked with Right to Play before, in 2007 when he was involved in the Liberia initiative.  He is also the spokesperson for Colon Cancer Canada. The three time Olympic medalist said of his involvement with Mali, in an interview with CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos, that he felt that he was secondary to the cause and was only being effective when someone rights a cheque. He also spoke about the eight days that he and Hughes spent in Mali, and how that allows him to be able to speak so passionately on the subject.

By enlisting the help of renowned Canadian athletes Right to Play is garnering the media attention that they need to raise the necessary funds for change to occur. This increased awareness allows more Canadian to learn about this important organization and the work they do and impact they have on the lives of children globally.

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