Five friends from Victoria, Canada started Opportunitas Aequa in order to make solutions for real world issues with a hands-on approach, using soccer as their universal tool to reach out to the community.

Their first international project was in Chimborazo and Guayaquil, Ecuador where, after a year of fund raising, six OA members were able to supply over 1350 balls, 850 pairs of cleats and runners, $20,000 worth of school uniforms, and a variety of other soccer-related equipment to the children and the communities of Chimborazo.

The team also constructed and reconstructed two soccer fields and brought over $12,000 USD into the local community.

Now OA has embarked on their second mission: to build a soccer field and run soccer camps in post war Rwanda. 

In a country still recovering from a horrific genocide OA will use soccer to reconcile communities, teach about gender equality, educate about HIV/AIDS and allow children to be children. 

Members of OA left for Rwanda on July 10 to complete the first stage of the program where they will work with an orphanage of 88 girls and boys called Rebero Orphan Center in Kigali, Rwanda.

In the fall OA will need $50,000 to complete the second stage of the program and another $100,000 for stage 3 in 2010.

OA is currently accepting donations at www.projectrwanda.givemeaning.com.

Read more about OA’s projects.

Stay tuned to 4REAL News updates on OA's progress in Rwanda