Norman was in Mali last week as part of the Coaching For Hope project. Coaching For Hope targets two groups of people in the developing world – youth workers and vulnerable children. The youth workers receive quality football coaching from top UK coaches as well as training in art education and HIV/Aids prevention and tuition. 
The disadvantaged children take part in football training workshops that promote confidence, team work and self esteem as well as art education sessions that provide an opportunity for self expression and potentially life saving HIV/Aids awareness workshops. Norman says “The thing about the project is that we’re not just coaching the kids but we’re going in and coaching the coaches, it’s that ‘give a man a fishing rod, not a fish’ thing. Football isn’t just about the game, it’s about togetherness. Combining football with helping people, it’s perfect. It’s been done by music so many times. But rather than just do a charity record I’m doing something that involves football, my second love.”
source: FBS MySpace Blog
Edit of the 25/09/2006:
17/09/2006 – Fatboy Slim visits Coaching for Hope school in Mali
The world famous DJ Fatboy Slim (aka Norman Cook) has recently become patron of Coaching for Hope and has been out in Mali this last week visiting the second Coaching for Hope school there. Norman was able to see the project in action and take part in Coaching for Hope football and art workshops. He also got the chance to visit a local orphanage we partner with and find out more about the realities facing children growing up in Mali. Norman has been extremely moved by his experience and is keen to carry on supporting the project in the future.
Photos by Andy Aitchison.
source: www.coachingforhope.org
source: http://www.coachingforhope.org