The Alan Kerins Projects was set up in 2006 by Galway football and hurling star, Alan Kerins, following his visit to Western Zambia as a volunteer physiotherapist. The depth of poverty Alan encountered spurred him on to launch a fundraising campaign that has to date raised well over € 1 million.

The Alan Kerins Projects aims to:

• Alleviate poverty by fostering and improving basic standards of living
• Invest in first class care in health, education and sport
• Design, develop and maintain infrastructure
• Create meaningful opportunities
• Learn from best practice
• Encourage self-sustaining lives through support and by real example
  
  

In 2010, Foróige launched a partnership with the Alan Kerins Project to assist the charity’s fundraising efforts and to develop UNESCO youth centres in Africa that will assist in the youth development and education of young people and in the growth of communities in the region. The Zambian model of youth work, which has been developed by Foróige, the Alan Kerins Projects and the UNESCO chair in children, youth and civic engagement (of which Foróige is a partner) at NUIG, integrates youth work, sport and health development.

Sport will help to engage many young people in the centre initially as sport is very popular in the region. Young people can then progress into youth health programmes as appropriate.  They will also be exposed to effective youth development programmes such as life skills training, citizenship education, computer technology and recreation. The model will ensure that young people are exposed to a variety of opportunities that will foster competencies such as life skills and leadership skills that will enable them to reach their full potential.

To find out more about how to support the Alan Kerins African Projects and upcoming fundraising activities check out www.alankerins.ie