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WOA Kids4Trees Goes International Under the Glow of the Youth Olympic Flame
28.07.2010 by WOA
WOA KIDS4TREES GOES INTERNATIONAL UNDER THE GLOW OF THE YOUTH OLYMPIC FLAME
The Youth Olympic Games Mascots Arrive on Goree Island A Senegalese Girl gets ready to plant her tree on Goree Island
July 25, 2010 Dakar
The WOA Kids4Trees Program, which was successfully launched in the United States earlier this spring, expanded internationally under the glow of the Youth Olympic Flame in Dakar, Senegal
Senegal's Monument of African Renaissance
Olympic Silver Medalist Amadou Dia Ba speaks to the children about the environment
The Youth Olympic Flame touched down in Dakar today on its mission to spread the spirit of Olympism to as many youth around the world as possible. The Flame was brought by sea onto Goree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After the boat arrived, the Flame was carried onto the island through the “Masion des Esclaves” (Slave House) famed “Door of No Return”, reminding participants of how far humanity has come in their understanding of the Olympic values of Friendship, Excellence and Respect.
Senegalese children plant trees on Goree Island as part of the WOA Kids4Trees Flame Festivities for the Youth Olympic Games
As part of the Flame festivities on the island, WOA Kids4Trees organized its first international tree planting event. Olympic Silver Medalist and WOA Executive Board Member Amadou DiaBa led more than 100 children in planting the trees and explaining the importance of taking care of our environment. Kids4Trees Executive Director Steve Redner educated the children on how to plant the trees and gave them instructions on watering and taking care of the young saplings after they are planted.
Photos L-R Steve Redner educatesthe children about planting trees, Olympian Amadou Dia Ba plants his tree, Senegalese children plant trees on Goree Island as part of the WOA Kids4Trees Flame Festivities for the Youth Olympic Games
WOA Kids4Trees provides children and young adults an opportunity to learn the values of Olympism, and to enrich their lives through art, music, conservation awareness and action - under the leadership examples of Olympians. The combination of the WOA Kids4Trees Program with the Youth Olympic Flame surely lit the fire of passion in the hearts of all the young people who took part in the event.
An Olympic Hero in his country, Amadou DiaBa expressed how the WOA Kids4Trees Program sends a great message to the children saying: “as an Olympian, it is my responsibility to be an example to the kids here and show them the values of sport, fair play and caring about our planet. I am very proud of the kids taking part here with WOA Kids4Trees and hope they have learned some valuable lessons. I explained to them that they are the ones who can change their world to make it a better place.”
WOA Director of Global Programs Tracy Mattes, who helped launch WOA Kids4Trees earlier this year, says: “The WOA is very happy to see this program become such a success and watch it evolve as it has; first with Olympians in the United States, and now internationally in conjunction with the Youth Olympic Games Flame in Senegal. It is our vision to take this program around the world next year to highlight the values of Olympism during the 2011 United Nations Year of the Forest.”
Olympic Silver Medalist Amadou Dia Ba and Kids4Trees Director Steve Redner with the Senegalese children during the WOA Kids4Trees Event on Goree Island as part of the Flame Festivities for the Youth Olympic Games
Senegal marked the second stop on the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame that will span five continents as a prelude to the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (Singapore 2010).
The Flame’s journey will culminate in the torch being brought to the Float at Marina Bay in Singapore, the world’s largest floating stage on 14 August 2010 where it will ignite the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games cauldron as part of the Opening Ceremony, signifying the start of the Games. Once lit, the Flame will continue to burn brightly throughout the 12 days of the Games until the Closing Ceremony on 26 August 2010.
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