Rugby ball project supports unemployed, cleans streets, raises spirits

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Rugby ball project supports unemployed, cleans streets, raises spirits

The incredible Touch rugby ball campaign has kicked off in South Africa, which sees unemployed seamstresses using recycled banners and billboards to make rugby balls stuffed with plastic bags collected from the street. Each ball creates a work opportunity and cleans up litter. The job creation NGO 'Live' is the fulfilment partner for this project.

Sponsored by EnviroServ, the initiative aims to harness the energy and excitement around rugby, especially Rugby World Cup 2011, in giving communities a tangible reason to get energized about rugby events. Prime Media Outdoor has donated R54000 worth of old billboard material to the project.

Women are able to earn as much as R200 a day once they have learnt the pattern and have practiced making balls for a few days. The campaign provides industrial sewing machines and training for community women with backgrounds as seamstresses, who are now out of work.

As the marketing director of EnviroServ, Delia Lavarinhas puts it, "Our business deals in waste management and there is no greater waste than the wasted talent in all of our communities. By demonstrating how materials like old billboards can be reused and by employing people in communities, both to make the balls and to clean up the streets, we are showing how we are 'in touch' with South Africa's waste management needs. We look forward to creating many days of work in the lead up to and during the 2011 rugby fever."

Balls cost R50, with R30 going directly back into the community and the balance contributing to 'Live' operating costs.

The project welcomes corporate gift orders or the opportunity to activate the project in your corporate foyer or unused shopping centre forecourt. For more information email az.oc.niwniw@aisoh or call +27 (0) 72 288 9088.