Alive and Kicking

Up to 35,000 footballs will be produced through Alive and Kicking in 2005

Partner Organisation

Alive and Kicking UK

Project Location

Kenya

Target Group

Youths, especially those at risk of HIV/AIDS

Time Frame

Since 2004 - ongoing

Objectives

Effective preventative health education to help disadvantaged people avoid the main communicable diseases of poverty, HIV/AIDS and malaria
Providing access to affordable, durable and repairable balls, which are in chronically short supply, to enable organized sport and regular games to take place
Regeneration of rural economies and reinforcement of community involvement in education

General Project Information

Alive and Kicking is all about building up the capacity and accessibility of sport within deprived communities using sport as a vehicle for health education and awareness. Plastic balls are not suitable for use in games in many African environments as they puncture easily and cannot be repaired. In collaboration with Bata, the International Shoe Company, A&K is making hard-wearing, leather footballs, which can be repaired, in stitching centres in Kenya - The model is easily replicable within Kenya and elsewhere in Africa via strategically sited, cooperatively run rural centres, which require low investment and local staff with basic skills, but are capable of producing 10,000 balls per year. Each ball carries HIV and malaria warnings and sell at approx. £5.80 (inc. VAT) , significantly cheaper than imported alternatives.

Organisations, including UNICEF, are helping design a health curriculum and educational materials. The project is supported by the Kenyan Ministry for Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services, UNICEF Country Office Nairobi, the Football Association and UK Sport.

Outcomes

The connection between sport and preventative health education means that the full power of the media can be mobilized in the battle against disease
Major organizations (UNICEF) are keen to be involved with the preparation of health and education materials
Increased access to balls and health education brings considerable benefits to the health and social lives of poor communities across the continent
Local manufacture helps to regenerate economies
When the balls become available in the UK as a 'fairly traded' product they will raise awareness of issues in sub-Saharan Africa and enhance and support school linking and other international programmes