Probably not many of us pay too much attention to soccer balls in stores across the world.  They are so many of them, they become something we look at only when our children need a new ball (probably every month or so).  We never doubt the fact that when we need one, we always find it with ease.

The ball of choice in Africa is made from plastic bags picked from the garbage dump, tightly wrapped together with thin rope until it becomes “sort” of round.  It doesn’t bounce and it wobbles on the ground when you kick it.

Nevertheless, thousands of children in Africa do this every day after school.  For hours they chase this little thing in clouds of dust until their mothers call them for dinner or sleep.  No tablets, smart phones or fancy toys, yet I’ve rarely seen happier kids.  Dusted with the white powder of Africa, torn and sweaty clothing, but with smiles from ear to ear.

Imagine then, the faces of these happy children when they receive a real soccer ball, with nice colors and shiny skin!  Imagine doing that to thousands of children in Africa, imagine the smiles!  We organize great friendly matches between villages and schools and interact with the children on their level, even playing with them.

My soccer team in Coquitlam, British Columbia sponsored hundreds of these children in Africa with brand new equipment: shorts, shirts, socks and even cleats.  The joy this equipment brought to all these children is hard to describe in words, but maybe the photos will do just that.  Check our photo gallery for more photos of our children dressed in new sports uniforms.  And come, be a Pilgrim, walk this way with us, you will put some smiles on faces of children everywhere and it will do a great deal of good to you.