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Islanders are being asked to donate old sports kit to raise funds for children in South Africa by Guernsey charity Goal50 and Public Services.
The charity has launched the campaign during Waste Awareness Week as ‘Project500’ and arranged a drop off point at Intersport, where people will be able to donate their old kit. This will then be sold on the Project500 Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Goal50-Project500/780079475355656) and all proceeds will go to The Great Commission Soccer Academy in the Cape Flats, Cape Town. Any unsold kit will be sent to South Africa.
Nigel Pascoe formed Goal50 in 2010 with South African charity Great Commission United, which aims to use football to help Cape Town’s street children develop the necessary skills to move forward in life and away from crime.
Mr Pascoe said: “As anyone with children will know, youngsters grow out of sports kit very quickly. We are grateful for the support of Public Services for arranging the drop-off bin and also to Jacques Le Vallee who is managing this project as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
“Jacques is keen to help youngsters who live in difficult circumstances. He is very focused and determined to make a difference. This is a great quality for someone of his age.”
Jacques Le Vallee, who is managing the project, said: "I am really enjoying leading this new initiative for Goal50. Children here are fortunate to have so many sporting opportunities and I know from experience the amount of kit that is used and discarded as they grow.
“We want people to know that instead of throwing away their old kit they can give it to a really great cause. A little goes a very long way in these South African townships and I really want to make a difference to the lives of those children."
States recycling officer, Tina Norman-Ross, said: “A key element of the waste strategy is to reduce what we throw away, which includes items like old clothing. We want everyone to stop and think ‘Could this be re-used by someone else?’ before they put things in the bin. Often it can be, and sports kits are a good example of this.
“We can also take general clothing at the main bring bank sites, and these will also go to charity. However we are also happy to support initiatives like this, which can find a new loving home for any unwanted items.”
