June 18 – As The World Cup 2014 progresses, so does One World Futbol’s mission to “bring the healing power of play to youth worldwide by making, selling and distributing nearly indestructible balls that survive the harshest environments” continues on.
With the aid of sponsors, One World Futbol Project provides “balls to disadvantaged communities where play and sport are used to foster change”. Tim Jahnigen, who set out to create a ball resilient enough to survive the test of stony streets, jagged walls and persistent use, founded the company in 2010.
Jahnigen was affected after watching news footage of refugee youth in Darfur playing football with a ball fashioned from trash. These children’s innovation and passion for the game led to him developing the One World Futbol.
The ball never needs a pump and never goes flat thanks to its specialised foam that allows the ball to re-inflate after receiving a puncture. The durability entails that teams and youth in equipment deprived areas, with this ball, always have the necessary component to play the sport they love, regardless of their environmental and situational difficulties.
Jahnigen’s wife Lisa Tarver, who is involved in the operation of the project, said: “What we see is the programmes that are working with the most at-risk communities in the world, and for the first time can continue their programmes year-round because they don’t have to stop every few weeks and wait another month or two or three months until a ball can be purchased or a ball is donated before they can continue.”
Musician Sting provided the initial funding for the research and development stages, and in 2010, after much testing and refinement, the product was ready to launch.
Since then, more than 850,000 balls have been distributed to over 170 countries, getting to the feet of an estimated 26,000,000 children. Examples of such destinations where the ball has been sent are remote villages in the Brazilian rain forest, in Kibera (Africa’s second largest slum) and to individuals working at refugee camps in Afghanistan, among many others.
The company has developed a ‘Buy One Give One’ strategy whereby for every One World Futbol bought, a second one is donated “to youth through organisations working in disadvantaged communities, such as refugee camps, war zones, disaster areas and inner cities”.
By ordering online, at the modest price of $39.50, you can select from a list your ‘Giving Partner’, thus enabling direct knowledge of who your are helping with your purchase. (http://www.oneworldfutbol.com/shop/one-world-futbol/)
INSIDEworldfootball has previously reported on One World Futbol and the story of Richard Swanson, who set out to dribble the One World Futbol from Seattle to Brazil to raise funds and awareness for the company’s project, but was tragically killed by a pickup truck en route.
One campaign offered through the site allows you to make an impact in his name. For the duration of the World Cup 2014 donations can be made in the name of Richard Swanson/Breakaway Brazil. (http://www.oneworldfutbol.com/campaigns/richardswanson/)
Furthermore One World Futbol founding sponsor, Chevrolet, will be handing out about 5,300 balls to organisations and schools across Brazil.
One World Futbol are teaming up with love.futbol, a Brazil-based nonprofit organisation that mobilizes and empowers disadvantaged communities to plan, build and manage their own soccer fields, to deliver one World Futbols to the community of Pinhais, Paraná.
They are also working with Lionsraw “to create change for young people and teach children and youth about health, gender respect, tolerance and other important life lessons” in and around Curitiba.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734982839labto1734982839ofdlr1734982839owedi1734982839sni@n1734982839osloh1734982839cin.n1734982839eb1734982839