A Swansea University student has partnered with Hyundai to help underpriveleged children in South Africa.
Through a partnership deal with the children’s charity SOS Africa, Hyundai UK donated 50 new school football kits and over 10,000 footballs – including 5,000 ‘new’ and 5,000 quality ‘second-hand’ balls – to underprivileged South African township children.
Jodie Davies, Hyundai Motor UK Ltd, said: “Hyundai, as an Official Partner to the 2010 FIFA World Cup has put together a world-beating line-up of competitions and special events to bring together friends and family across the world.
“The partnership with SOS Africa has ensured that children in the townships, who can not afford to attend the games, benefit from the significant investment that South Africa has attracted through hosting the World Cup.”
The footballs and school football kits will be distributed by SOS Africa to townships across South Africa during the World Cup; beginning Friday 11th June.
Matt Crowcombe, an International Relations (PhD) student at Swansea University and UK President of SOS Africa, said: “There is a danger that the World Cup will come and go and much of the poorer communities of South Africa, who cannot afford to see the games, will miss out. This project will ensure this won’t be the case.
“If we cannot take the children to the World Cup, we will bring the game to the children living in the poorest areas around the match playing towns.
“Many thanks are owed to Hyundai UK and to Swansea University staff and students who have helped SOS Africa to grow and support the education of many African children.”
The Swansea University student, Matt Crowcombe, co-founded SOS Africa in 2003 following a ‘gap year’ in the International School of South Africa near the Lonely Park Township, before studying for a History and Politics degree at Swansea University.
Matt, who has received tremendous support from fellow students at Swansea University, added: “I mentioned SOS Africa when I began studying at Swansea University in 2003 and, over the years, I have been overwhelmed by the support – which has included the raising of tens of thousands of pounds from charity runs, cycles and haircuts.”
To find out more about the ongoing support for SOS Africa and how World Cup fans have helped to make a difference to children in South Africa, visit the SOS Africa website: www.sosafrica.com.
