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Discussion about entry

Alive & Kicking
by Martin Barnard | Jan 08, 2008
201 reads | 6 Comments

This is discussion about Alive & Kicking .

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Numbers?

by Mario Raimondi | Feb 19, 2008
 

Hi Martin

can you please clarify some numbers, I've checked your website but couldnt find the info...You say you deliver free (or cheap sometimes) balls to children, etc. Also you mentioned the project is self-financed.

According to the data here, the budget of 2007 was 437000 BP. You detailed in the last 3 years you made 115000 balls, thats 40000 a year...So considering you made that amount in 2007, it costed you 40 BP each of them? Its that correct?

Another question I have, 170 people are employed, how much money they get per hour and how are the conditions there are working?

Thanks a lot

Cheers
Mario

Numbers

Martin Barnard
by Martin Barnard | Feb 22, 2008
 

Dear Mario

We've actually been selling the balls at GBP 6.50 if collected from our workshop. We made 65,000 balls in 2007 - so it cost us roughly 437,000/65,000 i.e. GBP 6.72 per ball.

The stitchers are paid GBP 0.9 (US$ 1.80) per ball stitched and generally make 3 balls per day. Their working condtions are good.

Best Martin

my thoughts

by Mario Raimondi | Feb 22, 2008
 

Hi Martin,

I like your project because it creates work for the community, having 170 people employed. Also moves the economy, buying the leather there. And the cherry on top, giving the balls to children and schools/etc. I think this is a micro-productive example that works very good, my cumpliments.

I'm only wondering how many balls you give for free and how many you sell. It would be great to give everything for free but this is not sustainable of course, but Im wondering how are the percentages. I can imagine the ones you sell are for institutions with some resources of course, how they know about you in terms of promotion?

I think this kind of project helps the community for real, giving them tools to live by themselves.

cheers

mario

Donations

Martin Barnard
by Martin Barnard | Feb 24, 2008
 

The balls we donate are actually paid for by visitors to our website and several ephilanthropy sites that like what we are doing.

We've managed to give out over 8,000 balls so far through this mechanism.

Best Martin

Expanding into vocational education

Jasper Nicolaisen
by Jasper Nicolaisen | Feb 29, 2008
 

Hi Martin,

what comes to mind immediately with this is to strengthen the vocational ecuation aspect and make the fabrication process more of a development tool for local communities. Young people could not only learn hot to stitch the balls, but also how to run and plan a production line, distribution, pr, acccounting...I gather that this is not at the moment a major aspect of your program, but have you though in this direction, too?

Best,

Jasper Nicolaisen
Free University Berlin
University Challenge

Feedback

Samit Shah
by Samit Shah | Apr 29, 2008
 

Dear Martin:

Thank you for participating in this collaborative competition. We value the time and effort you’ve put forth and we would like to offer you feedback and some thought provoking questions from our Evaluation Team.

The idea of making sport-centered development initiatives more sustainable by focusing on medium-related problems (ie. shortage of soccer balls) is unique, and teaches practical skills while delivering aid. The project has had a large demonstrated impact in a short period of time and has proven the possibility of scalability. While the ball-making operation in Kenya seems to be the key to long-term sustainability, more information would be helpful considering that the balls are sold at cost.

Please use this input as both potential insights into your innovations, as well as constructive ideas for how to improve or grow your organization.

Warm regards,
The Changemakers Team