Alive & Kicking (social enterprise)
Encyclopedia
Alive & Kicking is an African social enterprise that manufactures sports balls to provide balls for children, create jobs for adults and promote health education through sport. In 2009, it was featured in Bloomberg BusinessWeek as one of the top 3 products that 'might change the world'. In 2010, Alive & Kicking was recognised by The Guardian
for it's employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Alive & Kicking currently operates in Kenya
and Zambia
. Alive & Kicking was established in Kenya in 2004 by Jim Cogan OBE. Having created Student Partnerships Worldwide (now called Restless Development), Jim had experience in East Africa. After UEFA
donated 81,000 Alive & Kicking balls across Africa, operations started in Zambia in 2007, using space on Zambeef’s leather site in Lusaka. In September 2007 Jim Cogan sadly died. Alive & Kicking was then taken under the stewardship of the then Chairman of Trustees, James Flecker, the enterprise survived and grew. After training from Alive & Kicking Kenya stitchers, Alive & Kicking South Africa began stitching balls in 2008 in Wellington. Together the three stitching centres have stitched over 350,000 balls. However, Alive & Kicking South Africa could not establish itself in the market for balls and in July 2009 it stopped production. Alive & Kicking's headquarters are located in London, and in the UK, Alive & Kicking is a registered charity.
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
for it's employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Alive & Kicking currently operates in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. Alive & Kicking was established in Kenya in 2004 by Jim Cogan OBE. Having created Student Partnerships Worldwide (now called Restless Development), Jim had experience in East Africa. After UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
donated 81,000 Alive & Kicking balls across Africa, operations started in Zambia in 2007, using space on Zambeef’s leather site in Lusaka. In September 2007 Jim Cogan sadly died. Alive & Kicking was then taken under the stewardship of the then Chairman of Trustees, James Flecker, the enterprise survived and grew. After training from Alive & Kicking Kenya stitchers, Alive & Kicking South Africa began stitching balls in 2008 in Wellington. Together the three stitching centres have stitched over 350,000 balls. However, Alive & Kicking South Africa could not establish itself in the market for balls and in July 2009 it stopped production. Alive & Kicking's headquarters are located in London, and in the UK, Alive & Kicking is a registered charity.
External links
- Alive and Kicking Website - http://www.aliveandkicking.org.uk/
- Bloomberg Newsweek - 25 products that might just change the world http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/12/1209_25_world_changing_products/4.htm
- The Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/12/alive-and-kicking-alison-tafeni
- Charity Comission Website - http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1105583&SubsidiaryNumber=0