Balls & Smiles

Ball making at Betterworld Village in Burgerspark

Members of the Green Feet team work-shopped with kids from Pretoria City center teaching them how to make the ultimate township soccer ball from waste found in the surrounding area. An abundance of FUN & GAMES & LAUGHTER...

mamelodi ball factory

Under guidance of Green Feet members, young people from Mamelodi and other townships will embark on a waste collection campaign - gathering rubbish (plastic bags, sponge, clothes, yogurt cups, newspaper etc.) from the streets and deliver it to the Event Day's 'Ball Factory'. This is where team members and helpers from Green Feet will teach and assist the youth to create the so-called "Green Balls" from the collected waste.

mamelodi ball factory

This South African township Green Ball 'factory' is an effective contributor to social development through soccer in South Africa; it makes a valuable contribution to social upliftment through skills training and creates among the youth an awareness of the immense impact waste has on their environment.
Not only does each child get to take his/her ball home - the balls can also be produced and sold as World Cup souvenirs and used by soccer players world wide to experience a truly African soccer game.
By the purchase of a ball, a buyer can make a meaningful contribution to upliftment in Southern Africa.

mamelodi ball factory

The environmental organization "Green Feet" has for some time now and with great commitment, been involved with local township communities, especially the youth, raising awareness of environmental issues and teaching children the possibility of creatively turning waste into something functional, usable and valuable.
In conjunction with the 19th FIFA World Cup, Green Feet will implement the 'Mamelodi Ball Factory' project.

Meeting Lunga

For the Mamelodi Ball Factory, Green Feet wanted firstly to collaborate with another African partner, and secondly wanted to find a competent "ball maker" that would be willing to teach facilitators in Mamelodi how to make the Eco balls from waste material.
After a long search, we discovered LUNGA SIDZUMO from Grassrootsocccer in Cape Town.
Lunga is a very dynamic 26-year-old Khayelistsha resident, which besides being a full time coach for Grassrootsoccer as well as managing his own soccer team also finds the time as partner in www.ragballinternational.com to assist youngsters in the township to manufacture soccer balls through which they can generate a small income for themselves.
We are hoping to bring Lunga to Pretoria within the next month to start workshops for Green Feet facilitators.