United_Digital1_8:Activist issue 7 12/06/2009 13:25 Page 27
united digital balls to poverty
27
Digging for victory!
From Nottingham to the Eastern Cape, Unite-backed Balls to poverty takes
young people to South Africa to rebuild communities – with football
It is over 30ºC and 34 students from South As well as the food projects the students and art to get young children off the streets
Nottingham College are working hard digging visited HIV/Aids project at Miller Mission. and away from the risks of crime and
holes for fence posts. The students are in violence.
Hobeni, a remote village in the Eastern Cape From remote rural to sprawling metropolis –
as part of the fifth Balls to poverty trip. despite the gruelling work in Hobeni the Balls to poverty is run on similar lines. The
students really got stuck in on the second part project, backed by Unite, brings 16 to 18 year
Unite has supported the invaluable work of of the trip providing coaching sessions on olds back into education, it shows them that
Balls to poverty for the last four years. The rugby and football to 3,000 schoolchildren they can change their lives for the better and
digging of holes is part of this year’s project to from some of the most deprived and use their experiences to inspire others.
build fencing for self-sufficient food growing challenging townships.
schemes. Toni Reed, 18, sport therapy student from
Most of the young children live in shanty Nottingham sums it up, “Being on this project
Reice Rhodes, 17, sums up the feelings of the towns and are at risk from crime, gangs and has greatly improved my self-confidence. It is
students, “It is really eye-opening to see how drugs. Local community police liaison officer, fantastic to see the effect that giving a football
difficult it is for local people in this remote Sgt Joe Wilson, spoke for the community, to a young child can have, the look of joy on
area to get access to healthy foods. “There are many similarities between our their face.
townships and your cities in relation to the
“It has been hard work but very satisfying to problems of gangs and crime. It is a great “I can take and share those experiences with
know that what we have done here today will inspiration to see these students from the UK primary school children in Nottingham and
help these people long into the future.” willing to spend time to work and engage with hopefully sow a seed of inspiration.”
our young children.”
The food project is part of a wider • To find out more about Balls to poverty visit
programme promoting healthy living and eating Early intervention programmes are in www.ballstopoverty.net
through education and self-sufficiency in an operation in townships around Cape Town.
area that has over 90 per cent unemployment Projects run by local people who go into • To see recent TV footage on the project
and major HIV/Aids problems. schools and communities using sport, music click here
Thanks Unite! The beautiful game goes South African
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