Wild World of Wednesday - April 29, 2009

Ashoka’s Changemakers and Nike: Four months ago Ashoka’s Changemakers and Nike asked the online global community to help them change the game for women and girls through sport and recreation. Through the creation of the GameChangers: Change the Game for Women in Sport competition, they have been raising awareness of the wide array of solutions available for women looking to improve their access to sport around the globe. The GameChangers community has welcomed 400 new initiatives from 50 different countries that have inspired thousands of enthusiasts in the community and improved the lives of women.

Over the month of March, the esteemed panel of judges including: Lombe Mwambwa of the Kalusha Foundation, Sheila Johnson – Ambassador for CARE, Abby Wambach – Member of the US National Soccer team, Jill Ker Conway – Nike Board Member, Ann M. Veneman – Executive Director of UNICEF, and Tanni Grey-Thompson – Vice Chair of the Laureus Sport Academy, reviewed these entries and chose 13 for special recognition. Since April 1, 2009, an extensive network of innovators, thought leaders, investors, journalists and enthusiasts have been making their voices heard by voting for these finalists. The votes have been tallied and the three winners are:

1. 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking – Nepal. This initiative is training women to be trekking guides, leading to educational and employment opportunities never before known by rural Nepalese women.

2. Moving the Goalposts – Kenya. The vision of this project is to provide affordable sanitary pads to girls in Kenya so they can participate fully in sports and in school.

3. Team-Up for Youth – United States. Team-Up for Youth empowers college-age women to volunteer their time as coaches and role models for girls in low-income communities in California.

I Knew They'd Do It: Sure, the Utah Jazz play the Los Angeles Lakers tough at home. But seriously, did you really think L.A. would drop every road game to them? This is the post-season, silly! The Jazz are a good team but the Lakers are just that much better and got it done in five.

Let Me Just Vent One More Time: For the last time - everyone is welcome here. I'm not going to slant to one sport, gender, demographic, region, ideology, or anything else. The best part about this world we live in = diversity. Deal with it!

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