The Issue: Lack of Resources for Soccer

Even though all it takes to play soccer is a ball, children across the world don't always have the means. When the World Cup came to Africa for the first time in 2010, photographer Jessica Hilltout traveled from South Africa to the Ivory Coast, watching children play with balls they'd constructed by hand. What she found, according to National Geographic, "was a grassroots game where passion trumped poverty, a do-it-yourself ethic prospered, and one ball could 'bring happiness to an entire village.'" What the balls those children gathered around were made of: twine, socks, tree bark, and plastic bags—whatever trash they could find.

The Campaign: Sending Soccer Balls to Underserved Children

All funds generated by this Grassroots campaign will be used by Pass It Forward to send soccer balls to children whose families and schools are unable to provide their own. Choose from the following options:

• $32 for a white, size 5 Pass It Forward soccer ball, plus an additional ball donated to one child ($39.99 value). Shipping is included.
• $32 for a yellow, size 4 Pass It Forward soccer ball, plus an additional ball donated to one child ($39.99 value). Shipping is included.
$16 donation to send one soccer ball to an underserved child

Pass It Forward's soccer balls are hand stitched from eco-friendly materials by fairly paid craftspeople. They are also laminated with four layers of polyester viscose to ensure they are match quality and long lasting. When the organization sends a ball to a school, community, or family on behalf of a person, that person receives information on where the donated ball went to provide a connection between the communities.