TO: UCIS Abroad, Nationality Rooms Scholarship

FROM:

RE: Julie Platt Recommendation

 

As Director of People Development for Grassroot Soccer (GRS), I had the pleasure of working with Julie Platt during her year-long internship with our organization in at our headquarters in Cape Town, South Africa. It is with great pleasure that I recommend her for the Nationally Room Scholarship program at the University of Pittsburgh.

 

Grassroot Soccer (GRS) is an international adolescent health organization that educates, inspires and mobilizes young people to overcome their greatest health challenges. GRS's evidence-based programs, led by trained local Coaches, incorporate soccer into dynamic lessons about health and wellness that engage young people and break down cultural barriers. With proven results and a constant focus on research and innovation, GRS has reached over 1.2 million young people in nearly 50 countries with health education.

 

As an intern, Julie primarily supported our Coach Development Program. This Program aims to develop employability and leadership skills in GRS coaches, 18 to 30-year-old men and women selected, trained and managed to deliver GRS curricula. Our coaches become agents for change in their communities through engaging youth participants in SKILLZ programmes. SKILLZ is the unique brand of soccer-based HIV prevention curricula that GRS delivers to learners at primary and secondary schools in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as other countries through its partnership model.

 

Julie strongly contributed to this the Coach Development Program’s expansion and success. She was instrumental in preparing our Coaches for exit opportunities into jobs and higher education. Julie implemented and supported a wide range of training courses and 1 on 1 sessions for our first and second year coaches that capacitated them with computer skills, financial literacy, and communication skills. Julie’s passion for helping others and hard work ethic were vital in her success as a mentor for 60 of our first year coaches. She remains a strong source of guidance and encouragement for our Coaches today, even six months after her internship. She still supports our Coaches in finding exit opportunities after their work experience with Grassroot Soccer.

 

Many interns do not get the opportunity to go and work “in the field” at the Football For Hope Centre in Khayelitsha, but Julie made it a point to spend as much time as possible learning and engaging with Khayelitsha site staff and coaches.  Her ability to take what she had learned working with our participants and relate them to larger public health and economic trends predicts a successful public health career in her future.

 

Julie’s ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds is one of her greatest strengths, and will serve her well in the field of international development. She was constantly award of her role as an outsider within South African culture, but she worked to gain the respect and trust of everyone she met. Over time, I saw Julie developed a strong sense of cultural competence that translated into her ability to deliver her training courses successfully. Furthermore, it allowed her to develop strong relationships with her coworkers.

 

Julie is an optimist with a strong self-concept. She believes she can make a meaningful difference in the world and approaches her work with humility but with a desire to share, learn, and grow. She speaks up, asks questions, and takes initiative.

I have no doubt that with her international experience working with GRS coupled with her academic studies in Public Health and Social Work, Julie will be an effective member of any international NGO. I highly recommend her for the nationally room scholarships. Any international NGO would be lucky to have her passion and positive attitude on their team.

 

Please contact me if you require anything further regarding my recommendation.