Hackney Wick FC has taken the beautiful game to the Congo, providing kit, equipment and coaching to children.
A foundation linked to the football club and founded by Bobby Kasanga, chair of the East London team, began operations in the Congo in October. The foundation provides football training to children near N’djili airport, in the South of the country.
Mr Kasanga, who was born in Congo but moved to London aged three, was inspired to bring football training to his homeland after seeing the impoverished conditions children were living in.
“Young people – the same age as kids I coach in London – were barefoot. I wanted to get them a couple of footballs just to lift the mood,” he said.
Andrew Newby of American manufacturing company Aretyn offered to design uniforms to “support the young kids to have some pride in themselves… the day they got their uniforms made a huge difference”.
The foundation aims to give children “something to look forward to, to have some fun, some structure, and some dignity – some didn’t even have proper clothes”, said Mr Kasanga.
To donate football equipment, bring items to Northwold Community Centre in Clapton. Monetary donations should be made directly to Hackney Wick FC | HWFC or Think Outside The Blox
