Football is big in Kenya, but not every child in the country is lucky enough to have a ball to play with. Despite this setback Kenyan kids are creative, especially when football is involved! Taking something they have in abundance in the suburbs of Nairobi – waste plastic – and turn it into footballs has become part of the game for many Kenyan kids. These footballs, hand-made out of used plastic bags and string, are known as ‘juwala’ (waste plastic) balls and one of them has now made an appearance on a big stage in world politics.
UN emphasises the importance of sport for development and peace
During his keynote address at the opening of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Congress in Copenhagen last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon presented an original ‘juwala’ ball from Kenya when he emphasized the importance of the links between sport, development and peace, especially in the slums of Africa.
Ban Ki-Moon’s ‘juwala’ ball was made by Peter Ndolo, a participant of streetfootballworld network member Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA). MYSA is a self-help youth sports and community service organisation working in the Mathare slums in Nairobi and has pioneered the links between sport, environment and development for over two decades.
http://www.streetfootballworld.org/
