2011.01.29: January 29, 2011: Peace Corps Volunteer Jerod Shuford helpis bring sport to Romanian children

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Romania: Peace Corps Romania : Peace Corps Romania: Newest Stories: 2011.01.29: January 29, 2011: Peace Corps Volunteer Jerod Shuford helpis bring sport to Romanian children

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Peace Corps Volunteer Jerod Shuford helpis bring sport to Romanian children

Peace Corps Volunteer  Jerod Shuford helpis bring sport to Romanian children

As a Peace Corps volunteer, Shuford had his assigned duties but he was also supposed to come up with a project. Shuford noticed a lack in after-school activities for students, especially for girls. "I found that, though Romanians love sports, particularly soccer, girls sports were pretty much non-existent in the rural areas of Romania. I wanted to give the girls of the school a chance to participate in after-school sports and hopefully do some confidence and team building at the same time, and it worked wonderfully," Shuford wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette. Shuford's idea took off and participation is way up. But he wants to take his project to the next level. Shuford wants to construct an athletic field for volleyball and other outdoor sports. "The great part about this project is there is so little for the kids to do after school and in the summer. There are no playgrounds. There's a soccer field, but it's pretty bare bones, no seats or anything, just a field with goals," Shuford wrote. "I really think this will become a big part of the kids' lives especially in the summer, and hopefully help them keep out of trouble."

Peace Corps Volunteer Jerod Shuford helpis bring sport to Romanian children

Cherryville resident helping bring sport to Romanian children

January 29, 2011 2:34 PM

Diane Turbyfill

Jerod Shuford hopes that people from his hometown will embrace his vision and pitch in to make it a reality.

The Cherryville man teaches school. In his spare time he has started an after-school program to involve children in athletics - in Romania.

Shuford is a volunteer with the Peace Corps. He joined up nearly three years ago when a slumped economy forced him to turn in a different direction.

On the path to becoming an archaeologist, Shuford was laid off when the economy tanked. Within months, Shuford took his first trip out of the country to his home away from home, a small village in Romania.

As a Peace Corps volunteer, Shuford had his assigned duties but he was also supposed to come up with a project.

Shuford noticed a lack in after-school activities for students, especially for girls.

"I found that, though Romanians love sports, particularly soccer, girls sports were pretty much non-existent in the rural areas of Romania. I wanted to give the girls of the school a chance to participate in after-school sports and hopefully do some confidence and team building at the same time, and it worked wonderfully," Shuford wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette.

Shuford's idea took off and participation is way up. But he wants to take his project to the next level.

Shuford wants to construct an athletic field for volleyball and other outdoor sports.

"The great part about this project is there is so little for the kids to do after school and in the summer. There are no playgrounds. There's a soccer field, but it's pretty bare bones, no seats or anything, just a field with goals," Shuford wrote. "I really think this will become a big part of the kids' lives especially in the summer, and hopefully help them keep out of trouble."

Shuford has been in Romania since 2008. He teaches English to students. Classes vary in size from four to 28 students and present a challenge with children coming from three different dialects, Romanian, Hungarian and Roma. The variety of backgrounds often leads to segregation during instruction time, but Shuford brings the children together with several after-school programs.

In addition to sports programs, Shuford started a vegetable garden students help tend. His mother in Cherryville mailed him some seeds to introduce classes to vegetables not indigenous to the region.

Shuford is also working on a living history museum in the village. The space right near the school would allow craftspeople an opportunity to pass along traditions of woodworking and metalworking. Their works would also be displayed at the museum.

Shuford's stint in Romania will come to a close in the next sixth months, but he has filed for an extension. He has become comfortable in his little village and values the work he's put in.

While Shuford knows it's a tough time for people to give to projects overseas, he hopes people will see value in contributing to his athletic field project.

The Peace Corps volunteer needs $3,850 to complete the project, and the community will provide money and labor for seating and equipment.

Shuford said the project is worthwhile and will benefit hundreds of children and hopefully continue on the athletic programs long after he's left the country.

"This sports area will make their lives substantially better, from after-school activities to the ability to put on school plays, even in the summer when right now there's nothing to do but wander up and down the street," Shuford wrote. "These children are so deserving. They love school. They love coming and learning every day. They don't have Smartboards and film projectors and TVs in the classrooms. Sometimes there aren't enough books to go around, but they still come every day with a smile, ready to learn."





Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2011; Peace Corps Romania; Directory of Romania RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Romania RPCVs; Sports





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Story Source: Gaston Gazette

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Romania; Sports

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