C
an something as simple as a soccer ball change a child's life? Organizers of "project play" say "you bet"! They are raising money to deliver balls to poor children in Africa.
"One ball, one child, one village, one country at a time" is the motto of "project play". The non-profit is the brain child of Chico State graduate Mike Mitchell, who was inspired while serving in the Peace Corps. With help from long-time friend Dave Stahl...owner of "Off the Wall Soccer" and former coach of the "Chico Rooks"...two thousand soccer balls were delivered last year to children, schools, and communities in Niger. "They really have nothing. need water, food, and so on but also need to be happy and have hope. A ball brought a lot of hope and with ten dollars can deliver a ball to africa and 30 to 40 kids can play."
Project Play hopes to raise enough money to deliver another 2 thousand balls to Togo, West Africa next year. And possibly more... in 2010...when South Africa hosts the World Cup.
"Kick-in-for-Kids" will raise money for the cause at off the wall on Saturday ... September 26th . There will be all kinds of matches ... including teams like the "Samba" ... from the Chico Cal Soccer club. Andy Nusome says, "Our goal is to provide kids in our program something that's fun, but beneficial and successful for them. that's largely similar mission of project play. Providing kids in impoverished parts of the world a chance to have fun through balls."
Other teams include the Chico police and fire departments...the semi-pro "Big Foot" team...and even a match between Chico and Pleasant Valley high schools. There are other acitvities too...all for five dollars. Two tickets will buy one soccer ball.
Eva Cross says, "cool doing something to give balls to kids in africa, cause soccer's such a fun sport."Jaidyn Vierra says, "I like soccer a lot and its really fun and i want people in africa to be able to do it too."
To find out more about project play...you can visit their website at projectplayafrica.org.
