♦We distributed 3,372 balls to children around Africa.
Where the balls went.
Breakdown by country
Thanks to the generosity of our customers and the hard work of Sony Group companies, we donated a total of 3,372 balls in 15 African countries.
Local NGOs and international agencies like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) actually presented the balls to the children.
Here are photos and comments from some of the schools and communities that received Sony original balls.
Moi High School, Biruli, Kenya
Naomi Nishinomiya
Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer
Village Development Officer, NGO Nyariga Craft Society
Our school used to have only one worn-out old soccer ball, despite there being 600 pupils here. The kids had to wait their turn for a go, or else they'd improvise a ball by rolling up scraps of cloth and bits of string. Trouble was, the stronger kids tended up to get all the ball time, while most of the other children never got near it.
We were lucky enough to be given ten balls. With the increase in number, the school grounds suddenly burst into life. Kids who'd never got a chance to touch the ball before and others who didn't normally venture outside-they all started playing soccer. I was astonished at the level of pent-up demand. Now more of the pupils can play serious, focused soccer for a decent length of time.
Nyariga Youth Soccer Team, Ghana
Naomi Nishinomiya
Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer
Village Development Officer, NGO Nyariga Craft Society
Nyariga is a village of about 3,000 people. The kids here all love soccer. Crowds formed in front of the small TVs in the houses with electricity to watch the games. I presented six balls to the local youth team. As part of the simple donation ceremony, I explained what sort of company Sony was and got the kids to find Japan and Ghana on an inflatable globe. They were deeply impressed. "These balls have come from a really faraway country," they said.
Previously they had used a very decrepit ball, so were amazed at how different the new balls felt from the very first kick. "Before we only had a single ball," explained the happy coach. "That meant we couldn't do focused, position-based practice. But now the goalkeepers can do their training while everyone else does passing practice."
Asked how he felt about the new balls, eleven-year-old Akolga said, "I fell like I've got a bit more skillful just because of the new ball. I'm young and up until now I hardly got the chance to get a touch. Now I want to practice with this new ball, so I can improve."
Kabronga Primary and Junior High School, Lusaka, Zambia
Yoshiaki Ishida
Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer
PE teacher
The kids were thrilled when they saw the new balls. In fact, they were so keen to get their hands on them I was worried a fight might break out! Some kids were saying, "I know Sony!", and others, "I love the design of the ball."
I'm a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer and teach physical education. There weren't enough balls for the number of pupils in the school I'm at, so teaching efficient lessons was a big challenge. Now we're using the balls that were donated to the school not just for soccer in my classes, but for dodgeball and volleyball too. They're also being used for club activities and matches after school hours. It doesn't just mean the kids have more of an opportunity to play ball games-I think they're smiling a while lot more now too.
