Here is a very encouraging update from one of our English partners who works on some projects in Togo.

I went to Togo, a small country in West Africa, in 2009, the first of six visits to the country.  Over the years I have supported a man called Aimé, who runs a girls’ football team, called Les Amis. Aimé is football coach, life coach, friend, surrogate father or uncle to the group of girls who play football at a high standard.  In fact, the girls have represented Togo in several international competitions.

TheTogo team

Togo is a poor country and girls’ sport is not highly valued.  It is a constant battle for Aimé and his colleagues to be able to afford to hire training fields, buy the necessary equipment and get the girls to where games are scheduled.  Sometimes girls may not have eaten and Aimé has to provide food before they can train and money to get them home safely if training goes on until dark.

 

On the hard, rough surfaces that they have to use, balls and football boots wear out quickly. Ironically, good quality balls in Togo cost more than in Western countries were income is much higher.

Training pitch

Running the football team is part of Aimé’s Christian Life, an out-pouring of the love of Jesus on a group of girls.  Through sport the girls improve their fitness, learn teamwork and have positive things to look forward to in a country where life can be hard.

 

The partnership with the Ball Project has been quite literally a godsend in helping the club to replenish its supply of footballs.

Ball Project is thankful to have wonderful partners working around the world to help children play!