Event: SBA’s 10th Birthday!
A Word from SERGE BETSEN
10 YEARS OF EXISTENCE
Since the creation of my association, 10 years have passed. Looking behind me, what human adventure! The tears have marked these years, but the tears that have expressed so many emotions: joy, disappointment, surprise, the smile of a child. I feel like it was yesterday. Today, SERGE BETSEN ACADEMY has not changed, it keeps the same philosophy, the one that made me a man in society, and a father. As a resume, it embodies my vision of rugby values: sharing, solidarity, selflessness …
Now, for this symbolic year of anniversary, we want to establish our model for our activities in Cameroon reach financial independence.
FESTIVE, SPORT … BUT ALWAYS FOR THE CHILDREN !
We really wanted to mark the occasion of 10 years with a great event in the Basque Country. It is now a reality with a symbolic moment in the region: Wednesday, July 23rd, the opening day of “Fêtes de Bayonne” at Bélascain Stadium, in the heart of downtown.
I can count on the presence of some former teammates and opponents, French or foreigners, from Biarritz, Bayonne and elsewhere but also some guests from other sports. All together for the children of SERGE BETSEN ACADEMY, all proceeds from the transaction will be donated to the association.
Please accept, Madam, Sir, the assurances of my gratitude for the support that you bring to this initiative.
One birthday, 2 EVENTS !
Sunday, July 20th
ANGLET BEACH RUGBY FESTIVAL
6:30pm : Charity match to benefit the SBA
http://www.beachrugbyfestival.fr/
Wednesday, July 23rd
FESTI’MATCH, opening of “Fêtes de bayonne”
- 3:30 p.m.: opening of the stadium to the public (free)
- 16H: exhibition tournament (7’s rugby)
- 17H: gala match SBA / Rugbyrama-Capgemini – with the participation of FRENCH LEGENDS
- 6:30 p.m.: End
Partnership: Val Thorens, our new sponsor
Serge Betsen Academy signed a partenrship with Val Thorens.
During the 6 Stations tournament which took place for the first time last year, Serge Betsen met with the ski resort of Val Thorens. It is the highest ski resort in Europe (2 300 m high) and the peak of the largest skiing area, les 3 Vallées (600 Km of connected ski runs).
Serge Betsen Academy and Val Thorens are now partners, on the basis of their common values of sharing, sport, health and education. Various actions will be set up this winter, such as a solidarity-based shop through the new Val Thorens e-boutique (clothes collection and Freegun/Val Thorens accessories). For each sale, 1€ is donated to the charity. The Val Thorens United/ Freegun collection is available on www.valthorens.com and on some of the station’spartners (a list is available at the Tourism Office).
This support will enable the charity to finance an important part of its projects in Cameroon for 2014, which marks the 10th anniversary of Serge Betsen Academy.
The chairman’s message
“I’m delighted to have signed this partnership with Val Thorens. On the one hand, it highlights the work that has been done in Cameroon for 9 years, and on the other hand it promotes a great ski resort. which will provide essential funds to develop the charity’s activities. That is why I want to deeply thank Val Thorens for its generosity, as well as well as our volunteers in Cameroon, France, the UK and the USA for their daily work with the sole aim to help children to build a better future in a difficult environment”.
Additional links
Partnership: Trois Quart
The new French brand Trois Quart, supports Serge Betsen Academy through a special SBA Tee-shirts line. Part of the funds is given to the chariy.
Zoétélé : V2R association help to renovate the centre
Read the testimony of the young French volunteers.
« For some of us, this year was our third visit to Cameroon, for some others it was the fifth one.
This time we went to Zoétélé to renovate the rugby centre of SBA. Everything went well, the building was not in such a bad state but it needed to be refreshed. Some children of the centre even helped us. We were really moved by their welcome with their dances and songs; they taught us how to dance!
Leaving the village was a really emotional moment, as we had to say goodbye to the children after they thanked us for the work we did through traditional dances, songs and a short play. They came to our hotel to wish us a nice trip back to France; we took some pictures together. Like every year it was moving to leave these children we got attached to so quickly.
Of course we would love to go back to Cameroon in the future because it’s an intense trip that makes us grow and that increases our awareness of many things. We have the chance to support children who needs help, to meet new people, to see a new culture… We will also always remember the tournament and rugby training in Zoétélé school, because it is great to see children being so much involved in this sport, whereas they live in a football country and in such difficult environment…Congratulations!”
The youth of Perpignan
USA : SBA arrives in the USA
SBA entrance on US ground thanks to its founder, Serge Betsen.
Early September, Serge Betsen visited the United States to take part in the Beyond Sport annual summit as an ambassador. Beyond Sport is a global organisation that promotes, develops and supports the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. During the summit, Serge Betsen Academy was officially nominated as a member of “Global Rugby Collaborative” – a US group which tries to “Create a Better World Through Rugby”. This nomination strengthens the creation of a SBA office in the USA, that will mainly aims to raise funds for our Cameroon projects.
During Serge Betsen’s visit, the French Lycée Rochambeau in Washington DC donated a $ 3 500 cheque to help the charity, and we thank them for this great support.
Finally, the former international rugby player held a training session in a US rugby club while promoting the actions of the charity.
2013 is the year of the official entrance of SBA and its founder Serge Betsen on US ground. Tha aim of SBA USA 501 (c) (3) is to raise funds for the organisation’s global mission : help children through rugby-education-health.
More pictures here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.771089536298863.1073741837.128573710550452&type=3&uploaded=20.
Cameroon: Lionel, our ambassador visits the centres
Lionel Quenardel, volunteer in the association for several years, came back from a week in Cameroon after visiting the centers of the SBA with his girlfriend and a friend.
Flaskback on his journey.
Cameroon: Partnership and support to APAJ association providing a technical training
The Cameroonian charity APAJ (Cameroonian Charity supporting self-employment for young people) was created 11 years ago. This year, the charity obtained government funding to set up this project: to build a new Centre for Social Support for Professional Set-up (CASIP). This training centre is aimed mainly at young adults who wish to become technicians. The training courses will include two specialisations: metal construction and industrial electricity. These courses will last 2 to 3 years and once they are completed, the centre will guide the young technicians in their search for internship and employment.
This substantial project has been set up in a Cameroonian environment with a particularly high unemployment rate, especially for young people. This centre is an alternative to the programme already proposed by APAJ in its first CASIP centre which offers self-employment courses in more standard subjects: dressmaking, hairstyling, beauty care and IT.
Education is the main mission of Serge Betsen Academy, and professional training is the culmination of our programmes because it ensures young people’s success through self-employment. This way, they can build their own better and more stable future. For all these reasons and following a meeting with APAJ and its chairman, the SBA board decided to help fund this project for amount of 5 000 euros hoping to see youth from SBA benefit from the training offered.
Zoétélé: Volunteers from V2R renovate the centre
For some of us, this year was our third visit to Cameroon, for some others it was the fifth one.
This time we went to Zoétélé to renovate the rugby centre of SBA. Everything went well, the building was not in such a bad state but it needed to be refreshed. Some children of the centre even helped us. We were really moved by their welcome with their dances and songs; they taught us how to dance!
Leaving the village was a really emotional moment, as we had to say goodbye to the children after they thanked us for the work we did through traditional dances, songs and a short play. They came to our hotel to wish us a nice trip back to France; we took some pictures together. Like every year it was moving to leave these children we got attached to so quickly.
Of course we would love to go back to Cameroon in the future because it’s an intense trip that makes us grow and that increases our awareness of many things. We have the chance to support children who needs help, to meet new people, to see a new culture… We will also always remember the tournament and rugby training in Zoétélé school, because it is great to see children being so much involved in this sport, whereas they live in a football country and in such difficult environment…Congratulations!”
The youth of Perpignan
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