At our recent staff conference, Mark Versey (2010 Project Manager) set the vision for how AIS South Africa are seeking to impact this nation through the 2010 FIFA World Cup™!

South Africa is famous for many things... in particular that it’s home to the Big Five animals: Lions, Elephants, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard. These Big Five animals have helped shape the vision of AIS-SA for 2010... each animal representing a core focus for this year.

1. Lion – AIS interns

The Lion is known as the King of the beasts because of its size and awesome power.
The AIS Lions of 2010 are the 10 AIS interns (with more interns joining from May). With pride we have welcomed them in January and after 5 weeks of intensive Sports-ministry training these Lions will be send out the partner with Churches, to make an impact in their local communities throughout South-Africa.
A further intake of interns will be in May 2010 till September 2010 being utilised in our offices and partner churches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
For further information on Internships with AIS please contact our Africa Office Intern Coordinator: martha@ais-africa.co.za.

2. Elephant – Ambassadors Coaches Fellowship

The African Elephants are known as the Gardeners of the Savannah.
Day in, day out, the AIS Elephants or Ambassadors Coaches Fellowship (AIS coaching volunteers) are impacting and nurturing the youth on South Africa's playing fields. The coaches have been recruited through the 2010 TREC Programme which includes training, resourcing and equipping coaches.
AIS-SA are thankful for the International Coach Educators from around the world who will be coming across to South-Africa to enable us to run the TREC Courses, equipping the local South African football enthusiasts to impact their communities during 2010.
If you would like further information on how you can be involved or support this coach education programme please contact: markv@ais-africa.co.za

3. Rhino – Church Based Sport Ministry

The Rhino is the great grazer because of his wide, broad mouth.
We love to compare the Rhino with the church, which reaches far and wide across South Africa.
For us as Ambassadors in Sport, it is important to help the churches in their football outreach to the community. We offer the churches training and help in running the following: Soccer Camps; Coaching Clinics; Futsal/Football Tournaments.
Email Africa@ais-africa.co.za to find out how AIS-SA can assist your church in preparing for the FIFA World Cup™ and beyond.

4. Buffalo – Football and Vulnerable

The sight of a herd of buffalo’s crossing your path is impressive, formidable and unforgettable.
So is the sight of some issues facing us in this South Africa at this time.
That is why Ambassadors has developed its football and the vulnerable programme as we believe everyone is valuable to Jesus. The coaches have learned how to educate the children in their teams in HIV/AIDS awareness and human trafficking.
In the Hope Academy, in the Drakenstein & Leeuwkop Correctional Facilities we help young men to fulfil their God-give potential trough football, faith and future. AIS recognise that 2010 is not just a year of celebration, but it is also an opportunity to practically address many of the challenges facing South Africa through providing relevant training in the areas of HIV prevention and human trafficking.

5.Leopard – AIS Mission Tours

The leopard is called the silent hunter or the prince of darkness and can adapt in just about any environment.
The AIS Mission Tour participants also need to learn to adapt on their arrival in South Africa as they look to serve AIS, the local church, the community and, above  all, God. We still need more participants on our AIS mission tours in 2010, so if you would like more information please contact 2010tours@ais-africa.co.za or visit the AIS Africa website or click on   AIS Mission Tours .
Tours can have an amazing impact on both the participant, host church, and the people the tour is looking to reach out to, so please continue to pray that we fill all our tours this year.

So...which of the Big Five are you or would you like to be? Please join us in prayer, support or through being a member of one of the above initiatives.

Email 2010@ais-africa.co.za for more information.