Hi all. My name is Dean and I recently contacted Paul [having seen the documentary about his trip to Malawi] and after a revealing and exciting discussion [and subsequent meeting] I am proud to be involved in the Rwanda 2009 project.  During our conversations I raised most [if not all] of the points made here. Furthermore I had similar feelings to those expressed here by some [Martin Davies, Mike Muses et al] with respect to the benefits of such 'work' in comparison to initiatives that focus on healthcare and so on.

 Suffice it to say I feel comfortable with my decision to participate in the project and am utterly convinced of the contribution such projects make to the communities that they touch.  What Paul doesn't mention through the website or other forum is the number of instances where the project volunteers [having met, played with and LISTENED TO] have returned to the communities they visited and made huge contributions in many of the areas referred to above.  I won't speak for Paul but from my perspective I see this project as a starting point of a long term relationship with those I meet rather than a project defined by the dates of arrival and departure along with its immediate objectives.  Nonetheless I am utterly convinced and supportive of the very simple premise of introducing joy into the lives of children where such emotion can, at times, be in rather short supply. 

If anybody is in doubt of the impact and effectiveness of such projects I invite them to view the footage that was used to make the recent Channel 4 broadcast. I defy anybody to maintain a 'less than positive' view of the worth of Paul's work after watching just a few minutes of the footage.

With respect to the supply of the balls we are currently looking into the notion of establishing a small, local business within the community [during the visit to Rwanda in December 2008] which will then manufacture the balls for us to then distribute [and thereby creating a small and hopefully successful micro-enterprise].  Incidentally, it may of interest that FIFA [the world governing body of the game] recently issued a rather grand press release proudly boasting of its 'gift' of 140 footballs to the professional teams in Rwanda.  With their recent references to slavery [of their poor community members earning in excess of £140,000 per week] I would suggest that they would provide a fine example of the corporate bodies [including charities] that Paul feels are the antithesis of what he is trying to achieve.  He [and I and, I am sure, the many other volunteers] don't wish for any reccgnition for our small [yet valid and significant] efforts.  For this reason we choose to reject self serving offers of assistance from large corporations [typically those with conditions concerning publicity and branding attached] who are more intersted in satisfying their cursory commitment to Corporate and Social responsibility that actually getting to know the people they are claiming to help.

Sorry to bang on but I hope you will all appreciate the passion involved in committing oneself to any voluntary initiative and the obvious concern one feels when, often through a lack of information, opinions are formed and/or comments are made concerning your 'passion'.

Best wishes and my thanks to even being interested enough to comment in the first place.

Dean M J Moull [not an ex-MP, TV personality or former employee of a global organisation]

For once Adam I'll agree with you. (shock, horror).

"Finally, it's a dear wish of mine that more of the big, 'corporate' charities were as open to ideas as Paul and the Giveaway are!"

Its a good wish. And I like how they have asked for any help in their email.
Now I understand them better. Still won't part with a tenner for them, but now at least I see more of where they are coming from. And thinking about issues like the ball toughness, kudos for that.

And if they are accessing footballs locally it makes me even more determined to buy a couple. There's a place for prosthetic limbs, famine relief, medication - of course there is. But man cannot live by bread alone - there's surely a place for fun too!

I agree, though, that they should be more upfront about issues like admin costs - who pays their website hosting fees if every penny of the donations goes to buying and distributing footballs?

So, in response to SSE's earlier comment, I've been finding out where the Giveaway gets its balls from. This is what one of the charity's trustees, Paul Clarke - the Saatchi & Saatchi one - told me in an email:

Where possible we try and get the balls made locally, therefore helping support local labour. For our last project in Uganda we hooked up with a charity that make good quality leather footballs (actually they are based in Kenya and we brought them into Uganda – a logistical headache). In our next project (Zambia, October 08) 100% of the balls will be made by a charity called Alive & Kicking who run a factory there.

Any suggestions people have the better. Also if people want to get in touch with us to help us try and source locally made balls then please do give them my number. We are a really open charity that want people to be involved, rather than closing our doors  

If anyone thinks they can help Paul and the Giveaway, please drop me a line. I'll put you in touch.

Finally, it's a dear wish of mine that more of the big, 'corporate' charities were as open to ideas as Paul and the Giveaway are!

Adam, Intelligent Giving

Solid defence there Mike. Good point well made...... I especially love that bit about 'every penny goes to the cause' - it hacks me off too.

Don't shoot the messenger

Agreed, Adam!  People deserve the best quality of life they can get, but I sometimes feel that people focus too much attention on the 'sexy' charities, the fun charities, and something like this because “it's run by volunteers so every penny goes to the cause”, without stopping to think about the benefits of the cause.

Now yes, the footballs, (and I'm sticking with Malawi here), that went to Malawi in 2006 might have helped to increase school attendance, and that's likely a great thing, but what else might these chaps have done with their clout?

Consider what a 'boring and stuffy' traditional style charity is doing with their football theme for a minute...

 "Proceeds from The Sue Ryder International Cup  will help children in Malawi like Chimwemwe who was hit by a car aged eight and lost his left leg.

Sue Ryder International provided him with a prosthetic limb, physiotherapy, and supported him to get back to school.  He now has two ambitions: to become a Member of Parliament or a professional footballer. "

SSE: A very good point, as ever. I've emailed the Giveaway people to ask. From their business plan, it seems as if they just get balls from Mitre - but I can't find out any more information. I'll keep you updated.

Martin & mikemuses: Yes, of course, I see your points. And I agree that the Giveaway's attitude towards more established charities isn't particularly helpful. On the other hand, though, doesn't everyone - even the seriously deprived - deserve a bit of fun, every now and again?

SimonK: Yes. Good point. Hadn't thought of that. "The Dyson of Charities." I can see them using that  strapline already...

Adam, Intelligent Giving

Yes, providing footballs is different. Its something you don't hear the major charities doing.
But how much difference does it make?

Does providing footballs improve health in these countries? Does it feed people? Provide shelter? Provide jobs? Empower individuals?

Conventional charities may be too old but they also provide other, perhaps more needed, help.

Now if this new group started providing footballs to the USA, teaching them how to play football properly (rather than just rugby in padding that has nicked the name football), maybe they'd be doing something. :)
And I'm sure the balls will come in handy during the next drought, give the farmers something to take their mind off their crops.....

It is a neat idea, though maybe one of those "old and slow-moving" charities might have thought of using fairtrade footballs? Maybe they do (would seem obvious), but it's not clear from the site.

 Even in Euro 2008 there was a scandal over Pakistani child labour making footballs. 

Well it’s a nifty idea, although personally, I suspect that some of the kids in Malawi might need things like medication, prostethic limbs or other things before footballs.

How can you excuse the fact though, that while the website makes it clear they don’t like ‘traditional’ charities, they don’t make clear much about the people behind it.  Hardly transparent there.

For "didn't invent" please read "who invented". The perils of rephrasing...

A marvellous idea, and I'll almost certainly be donating a football or two.

 In answer to your question - "why does it take charity ‘outsiders’ to come up with such a brilliant idea?" - isn't that the same in every walk of life and not just charity? There are examples of innovation from big organisations - the iPod, for example - but more often, it's outsiders who come up with the great ideas. It wasn't a big radio manufacturer who came up with the clockwork radio; it wasn't Hoover or Electrolux didn't invent the Dyson.

If it carries on this way this thread could get rather boring! To my mind the public perception of charities being too big is based largely on ignorance, but that's not to say that we shouldn't do more to shape the debate and re-educate people. After all we only exist for the benefit of the public and it would be impossible for us to continue our work without their ongoing support.

Don't shoot the messenger

That thought did cross my mind too, Ginsters... Still, I think their concern probably does reflect the worry of a lot of charity supporters: that charities are too big nowadays.  And that's something I don't think (so far as I can tell) charities are doing very much about.

Adam, Intelligent Giving

Being called 'too corporate' by an organisation comprising a tory party big wig and a Saatchi and Saatchi 'image whore' smarts just a little.  

Don't shoot the messenger