MAKE A GREAT PASS-USED SOCCER GEAR
Donation protected
IF YOU ARE IN THE HALTON/HAMILTON AREA OF CANADA PLEASE HELP US BY DONATING USED SOCCER EQUIPEMENT AT YOUR LOCAL SYLVAN LEARNING CENTRE OR AT THE OFFICES OF OUR PARTNERS; OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB, BURLINGTON YOUTH SOCCER CLUB OR ANCASTER SOCCER CLUB.
WE WOULD ALSO WELCOME ANY FINANCIAL DONATIONS THROUGH THIS GO FUND ME PAGE TO COVER SOME OF OUR MODEST OPERATING COSTS AND TO PUT MONEY ASIDE FOR FUTURE SHIPPING EXPENSES. THIS IS POLITE REQUEST TO GIVE IF YOU CAN AND IF YOU WISH BUT DO NOT FEEL OBLIGED. INSTEAD IF YOU CAN DONATE USED SOCCER GEAR AND SPREAD OUR STORY IN THE COMMUNITY SO THERS CAN HELP US IN THE SAME WAY THAT WOULD BE GREAT TOO.
OUR HISTORY
THE CAMPAIGN WE HAVE NAMED MAKE A GREAT PASS - DONATE YOUR USED SOCCER GEAR WAS LAUNCHED IN 2012 AS A SIMPLE PLAN TO COLLECT USED SOCCER GEAR IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, CANADA. IN SOME WAYS IT HAS GROWN TO BE SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH BIGGER, AS EXPLAINED BELOW.
WE ARE STILL ONLY A HANDFUL OF VOLUNTEERS BACKED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF OAKVILLE-TRAFALGAR AND OUR COMMUNITY SOCCER PARTNERS. WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION TO COLLECT UNEEDED SOCCER (FOOTBALL) GEAR FROM LOCAL SOCCER CLUBS, COACHES. PLAYERS & THIER FAMILIES AND TO GET IT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT, EITHER IN CANADA OR OVERSEAS.
OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS WE HAVE COLLECTED AND SORTED OVER 20,000 UNIFORMS, 7,000 SOCCER BALLS, 3,000 PAIRS OF CLEATS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER SOCCER RELATED DONATIONS AND THEN DISTRIBUTED THEM TO IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES IN OVER 35 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE. THIS IS OUR MAIN MISSION AND THIS IS WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
HOW DO WE DISTRIBUTE THE SOCCER GEAR?
NORMALLY THE SOCCER DONATIONS ARE PASSED ON BY ME TO TRUSTED PARTNERS WHICH COULD BE INDIVIDUALS , CHURCH MISSIONS, SOCCER COACHES OR EVEN JUST FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING ON VACATION OR RETURNING TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGINAL FOR A VISIT. ONCE THEY LEARN THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM DONATED SOCCER GEAR THEY ARE EXCITED TO HELP. OUR ONLY REQUIREMENT IS THAT THEY ENSURE IT GETS TO THOSE WHO TRULY NEED IT AND THAT WHERE POSSIBLE THEY GET SOMEONE TO SHARE SOME PHOTOS WITH US SO WE IN TURN CAN SHARE WITH OUR DONORS.
I HAVE THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS OF OUR GEAR BEING HANDED OVER AND USED BY CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR FROM AS MANY AS 25 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. HOWEVER AS A BUSY FATHER I SIMPLY HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO POST THEM ALL ON THIS GO FUND ME PAGE OR ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. I PLAN TO GET SOME HELP TO DO SO MORE OFTEN IN THE FUTURE
SO WHAT HAVE WE REALLY ACHIEVED?
IF YOU HAVE NEVER LIVED IN POVERTY AS A CHILD YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THE EMPOWERING EFFECT OF JUST HAVING SOMETHING TO CALL YOUR OWN. YOU CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT HAVING A SOCCER BALL OR A REAL SOCCER UNIFORM MIGHT MEAN TO A CHILD IN THIS SITUATION. I WAS ONE OF NINE CHILDREN AND THANKFULLY I HAD CARING PARENTS. BUT IN REALITY WE WERE POOR, WE JUST DID NOT REALIZE IT, BECAUSE EVERY FAMILY AROUND US WAS GENERALLY EVEN POORER.
BACK THEN FUN, EXERCISE, SPORT, COMPETITION AND PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP OF SIMPLE THINGS MEANT SOMETHING SPECIAL TO US AND HELP TO FORM THE ADULTS WE BECAME. TO ME THAT IS THE POTENTIAL POWER OF THAT ONE DONATED SOCCER BALL OR SOCCER JERSEYS OR CLEATS.
WHEN WE GIVE A A POORER COMMUNITY A COUPLE OF COMPLETE SETS OF SOCCER TEAM UNIFORMS, INDIRECTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE MAY GIVE A GROUP OF BOYS FROM A POOR RURAL COMMUNTIY THE SAME EQUIPMENT AS THE BOY FROM THE BIGGER TOWN OR CITIES. THIS IS WHAST HAPPENED WHEN WE GAVE A FULL SET OF MATCHING MEXICO COUNTRY UNIFORMS TO THE SO CALLED 'JUNGLE RATS' WHO THE CITY KIDS CALLEC THE VILLAGE CHILDREN WHO LIVE INLAND FROM THE MAYAN RIVIERA IN MEXICO. OR WE MAY ENABLE A YOUTH WORKER TO BRING TOGETHER A GROUP OF STREET KIDS IN A POOR TOWNSHIP OUTSIDE OF JO'BURG IN SOUTH AFRICA AS HAPPENED WHEN WE GAVE GEAR TO FLEXI WHO WAS LEAVING CANADA TO GO TO HELP THESE COMMUNITIES . IN ANOTHER CASE WE HELPED CREATE A NETWORK OF VILLAGE TEAMS BETWEEN GROUPS OF VULNERABLE ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN KENYA, WHICH RESULTED IN A NEW PEER SUPPORT STRUCTURE THROUGH THE FORMATION OF SOCCER TEAMS AND INTERVILLAGE LEAGUES. THE SAME TYPE OF THING IS HAPPENING FOR BOYS AND GIRLS FROM DIFFERENT VILLAGES, CULTURES & RELIGIONS IN SIERRA LEONE WHOSE PARENTS HAD BECOME MORE DIVIDED AND DISTRUSTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER AS A RESULT OF THE CIVIL WAR (EVEN THOUGH IT ENDED 15 YEARS AGO). THROUGH DONATING SOCCER EQUIPEMENT WE ARE HELPING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS, BUILD TRUST AND BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AS THE TEAMS COME TOGETHER TO PLAY.
OR MAYBE ELSEWHERE WE JUST PUTTING A SMILE ON A FEW CHILDRENS FACES AS THEY ARE GIVEN THE GIFT OF A SOCCER BALL AND A UNIFORM FROM A GROUP OF FRIENDLY VISITORS FROM CANADA. WHATEVER THE STORY THE PEOPLE WHO RETURN TO THANK FOR THE DONATIONS OFTEN ME TELL ME WHAT AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT IT HAS HAD IN COMMUNTIES THAT THEY KNEW WERE STRUGGLING AND THE CHILDRENS LIVES WERE OFTEN VERY TOUGH. MY VIEW IS IF I CAN HELP I SHOULD. AT THE END OF THE DAY ALTHOUGH IT TAKES A BIT OF EFFORTS, IT CAN DO LITTLE HARM AND USUALLY IT CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD.
WHAT IS OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT?
BEING ABLE TO COLLECT, SORT AND DISTRIBUTE SO MUCH STUFF IN JUST FIVE YEARS WITH ALMOST ZERO BUDGET, HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE TO ME.
HOWEVER OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT BEEN BEING ABLE TO SEND THREE SHIPPING CONTAINER FILLED WITH SOCCER GEAR, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, MEDICAL EQUIPEMENT AND LOTS OF OTHER HUMANITARIAN TO SIERRA LEONE IN 2015 AND 2016. THIS WAS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY FREIND AND FELLOW ROTARIAN, BASSIE KARGBO OF CANSERRA AND THERE IS MORE ON THAT BELOW. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING BASSIE AND THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE AGAIN. IN THE MEANTIME WE WILL ALSO HELP AS MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES AS WE CAN THROUGH THE SIMPLE ACTION OF GIVING THEM NEW AND USED SOCCER GEAR TO ENJOY. IT IS A SIMPLE MISSION AND IT REAPS WONDERFUL REWARDS.
MORE DETAILS OF OUR RECENT MAKE A GREAT PASS TO SIEERA LEONE PROJECT FOLLOWS BELOW. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED US IN THE PAST AND THOSE WHO WANT TO HELP US IN THE FUTURE.
REGARDS,
DESMOND JORDAN, FOUNDER
MAKE A GREAT PASS - DONATE YOUR USED SOCCER GEAR
WHY FUND US OR HELP US?
Because this is the real deal. I cannot think of another not- for-profit project that I have been involved with that has had a more direct impact on peoples lives in so many different ways. This is real humanitarian help that will empower people in the long term and bring joy in the short term.
This picture above shows a container being packed by volunteers in Oakville, Ontario, Canada in Nov 2016. Bassie and Desmond stopped for a photo when they realized they were going to achieve their goal of getting their first container filled and shipped.
The picture above shows the donated gear getting organized in Freetown, Sierra Leone to be distributed throughout the country to the many impoverished communties who have suffered from the past civil war and then the Ebola outbreak.
As you can see what started off as an idea to collect and send some soccer gear overseas has grown to become a very personal project for us. My partner in this Africa project, Bassie Kargbo, is a refugee from Sierra Leone who lived through the brutal civil war in that country. With his orphaned brothers and sisters he fled the fighting and, after four countries and four years, they were finally sponsored to come to live safely in Canada.
Bassie is very grateful to his sponsors for rescuing him and his family but he has also never forgotten the less fortunate people of Sierra Leone that he left behind. It is his life's mission to do everything he can to help them. They have suffered greatly but he knows personally that, even in their poverty, they are proud people who want 'a hand-up' more than they want 'a hand-out'. That is what we have set out to do.
starting first with soccer gear anf then expanding to include educational and medical equipement together, Bassie and I collected over $300,000 of new and used donated items from individuals and organizations in Canada. We know these items will be priceless to the people in Sierra Leone who will recieve them.
SOME OF THE ITEMS WE SHIPPED:
20 Beds For An Underfunded Health Care Service
450 Bicycles For A Bicycles 4 Humanity chapter, 1000 Soccer Balls, 2500 Soccer Uniforms, 1000 Cleats & Soccer Coaching Gear and Equipment.
700 Computers For Use in Schools
4000 School Back Packs For Children
2000 Gift Packs for Adults
Tables & Desks for Canserra School
Boxes of Educational Materials and Supplies
400 Sheets, Towels & Blankets
New and Used Clothes and Men and Ladies Shoes
Children's Clothing, Bedding and Soft Toys
WHY SIERRA LEONE?
Aside from Bassie's personal connection to this country, the United Nations Development Program www.slundp.org states that Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world today and that the people are still suffering socially and economically from the civil war that lasted from 1991 to 2002.
The scars from this war run deep, long after the brutality of the events have left our TV screens. Many adults have grown up as orphans, there are still thousands of traumatized former child soldiers, hundreds of amputees, civilian victims of war brutalities and yet more poor, undocumented refugees left from the war in neighbouring Liberia.
WHY SHOULD YOU DONATE TODAY?
Because if you are reading this you are someone who cares. This campaign gives you the opportunity to really help people today who will appreciate it and will use the donations we are sending to improve their own lives and those of others in their community not only today but into the future, by helping to break the cycle of poverty.
The MAKE A GREAT PASS soccer tournaments alone have helped to bring together people of all ages from different villages, tribal groups and religions to enjoy friends and relatives play in the games.
After the civil war, the people of Sierra Leone need opportunities like the these local soccer/football tournaments but to help to re-build trust, peace and togetherness within the country.
HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP US?
We would be grateful for every dollar that you choose to give and we would kindly ask that you share this Make A Great Pass information GoFundMe campaign among your friends, family and your extended social media networks. The link is gofundme.com/makeagreatpass You can contact us through [email redacted]
SOME OF OUR SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS ARE;
CanSerra is Sierra Leone charity that raises funds to operate an elementary and high school in the refugee community of Kissi Town.
Oakville Soccer Club is the largest community based soccer club in North America with 13,500 registered players of all ages.
Burlington Youth Soccer Club
Details to be inserted soon.
Ancaster Soccer Club
Details to be inserted soon
Bicycles For Humanity has chapters all over the world but our supporting partner is Bicycles For Humanity - Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
The Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar is part of the worldwide family of Rotarians who live by the motto of Service Above Self
Apple Self Storage - Oakville, Ontario
Kindly offered temporary storage space for all our donations. Apple Self Storage offers a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor heated units. It also has executive office suites for rent on a monthly basis and boardroom space available for hourly rental.
WE WOULD ALSO WELCOME ANY FINANCIAL DONATIONS THROUGH THIS GO FUND ME PAGE TO COVER SOME OF OUR MODEST OPERATING COSTS AND TO PUT MONEY ASIDE FOR FUTURE SHIPPING EXPENSES. THIS IS POLITE REQUEST TO GIVE IF YOU CAN AND IF YOU WISH BUT DO NOT FEEL OBLIGED. INSTEAD IF YOU CAN DONATE USED SOCCER GEAR AND SPREAD OUR STORY IN THE COMMUNITY SO THERS CAN HELP US IN THE SAME WAY THAT WOULD BE GREAT TOO.
OUR HISTORY
THE CAMPAIGN WE HAVE NAMED MAKE A GREAT PASS - DONATE YOUR USED SOCCER GEAR WAS LAUNCHED IN 2012 AS A SIMPLE PLAN TO COLLECT USED SOCCER GEAR IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO, CANADA. IN SOME WAYS IT HAS GROWN TO BE SOMETHING MUCH, MUCH BIGGER, AS EXPLAINED BELOW.
WE ARE STILL ONLY A HANDFUL OF VOLUNTEERS BACKED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF OAKVILLE-TRAFALGAR AND OUR COMMUNITY SOCCER PARTNERS. WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION TO COLLECT UNEEDED SOCCER (FOOTBALL) GEAR FROM LOCAL SOCCER CLUBS, COACHES. PLAYERS & THIER FAMILIES AND TO GET IT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT, EITHER IN CANADA OR OVERSEAS.
OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS WE HAVE COLLECTED AND SORTED OVER 20,000 UNIFORMS, 7,000 SOCCER BALLS, 3,000 PAIRS OF CLEATS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER SOCCER RELATED DONATIONS AND THEN DISTRIBUTED THEM TO IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES IN OVER 35 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE. THIS IS OUR MAIN MISSION AND THIS IS WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
HOW DO WE DISTRIBUTE THE SOCCER GEAR?
NORMALLY THE SOCCER DONATIONS ARE PASSED ON BY ME TO TRUSTED PARTNERS WHICH COULD BE INDIVIDUALS , CHURCH MISSIONS, SOCCER COACHES OR EVEN JUST FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING ON VACATION OR RETURNING TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGINAL FOR A VISIT. ONCE THEY LEARN THAT WE CAN GIVE THEM DONATED SOCCER GEAR THEY ARE EXCITED TO HELP. OUR ONLY REQUIREMENT IS THAT THEY ENSURE IT GETS TO THOSE WHO TRULY NEED IT AND THAT WHERE POSSIBLE THEY GET SOMEONE TO SHARE SOME PHOTOS WITH US SO WE IN TURN CAN SHARE WITH OUR DONORS.
I HAVE THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS OF OUR GEAR BEING HANDED OVER AND USED BY CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR FROM AS MANY AS 25 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. HOWEVER AS A BUSY FATHER I SIMPLY HAVE NOT HAD TIME TO POST THEM ALL ON THIS GO FUND ME PAGE OR ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. I PLAN TO GET SOME HELP TO DO SO MORE OFTEN IN THE FUTURE
SO WHAT HAVE WE REALLY ACHIEVED?
IF YOU HAVE NEVER LIVED IN POVERTY AS A CHILD YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THE EMPOWERING EFFECT OF JUST HAVING SOMETHING TO CALL YOUR OWN. YOU CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT HAVING A SOCCER BALL OR A REAL SOCCER UNIFORM MIGHT MEAN TO A CHILD IN THIS SITUATION. I WAS ONE OF NINE CHILDREN AND THANKFULLY I HAD CARING PARENTS. BUT IN REALITY WE WERE POOR, WE JUST DID NOT REALIZE IT, BECAUSE EVERY FAMILY AROUND US WAS GENERALLY EVEN POORER.
BACK THEN FUN, EXERCISE, SPORT, COMPETITION AND PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP OF SIMPLE THINGS MEANT SOMETHING SPECIAL TO US AND HELP TO FORM THE ADULTS WE BECAME. TO ME THAT IS THE POTENTIAL POWER OF THAT ONE DONATED SOCCER BALL OR SOCCER JERSEYS OR CLEATS.
WHEN WE GIVE A A POORER COMMUNITY A COUPLE OF COMPLETE SETS OF SOCCER TEAM UNIFORMS, INDIRECTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE MAY GIVE A GROUP OF BOYS FROM A POOR RURAL COMMUNTIY THE SAME EQUIPMENT AS THE BOY FROM THE BIGGER TOWN OR CITIES. THIS IS WHAST HAPPENED WHEN WE GAVE A FULL SET OF MATCHING MEXICO COUNTRY UNIFORMS TO THE SO CALLED 'JUNGLE RATS' WHO THE CITY KIDS CALLEC THE VILLAGE CHILDREN WHO LIVE INLAND FROM THE MAYAN RIVIERA IN MEXICO. OR WE MAY ENABLE A YOUTH WORKER TO BRING TOGETHER A GROUP OF STREET KIDS IN A POOR TOWNSHIP OUTSIDE OF JO'BURG IN SOUTH AFRICA AS HAPPENED WHEN WE GAVE GEAR TO FLEXI WHO WAS LEAVING CANADA TO GO TO HELP THESE COMMUNITIES . IN ANOTHER CASE WE HELPED CREATE A NETWORK OF VILLAGE TEAMS BETWEEN GROUPS OF VULNERABLE ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN KENYA, WHICH RESULTED IN A NEW PEER SUPPORT STRUCTURE THROUGH THE FORMATION OF SOCCER TEAMS AND INTERVILLAGE LEAGUES. THE SAME TYPE OF THING IS HAPPENING FOR BOYS AND GIRLS FROM DIFFERENT VILLAGES, CULTURES & RELIGIONS IN SIERRA LEONE WHOSE PARENTS HAD BECOME MORE DIVIDED AND DISTRUSTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER AS A RESULT OF THE CIVIL WAR (EVEN THOUGH IT ENDED 15 YEARS AGO). THROUGH DONATING SOCCER EQUIPEMENT WE ARE HELPING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS, BUILD TRUST AND BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AS THE TEAMS COME TOGETHER TO PLAY.
OR MAYBE ELSEWHERE WE JUST PUTTING A SMILE ON A FEW CHILDRENS FACES AS THEY ARE GIVEN THE GIFT OF A SOCCER BALL AND A UNIFORM FROM A GROUP OF FRIENDLY VISITORS FROM CANADA. WHATEVER THE STORY THE PEOPLE WHO RETURN TO THANK FOR THE DONATIONS OFTEN ME TELL ME WHAT AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT IT HAS HAD IN COMMUNTIES THAT THEY KNEW WERE STRUGGLING AND THE CHILDRENS LIVES WERE OFTEN VERY TOUGH. MY VIEW IS IF I CAN HELP I SHOULD. AT THE END OF THE DAY ALTHOUGH IT TAKES A BIT OF EFFORTS, IT CAN DO LITTLE HARM AND USUALLY IT CAN DO A LOT OF GOOD.
WHAT IS OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT?
BEING ABLE TO COLLECT, SORT AND DISTRIBUTE SO MUCH STUFF IN JUST FIVE YEARS WITH ALMOST ZERO BUDGET, HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISE TO ME.
HOWEVER OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT BEEN BEING ABLE TO SEND THREE SHIPPING CONTAINER FILLED WITH SOCCER GEAR, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, MEDICAL EQUIPEMENT AND LOTS OF OTHER HUMANITARIAN TO SIERRA LEONE IN 2015 AND 2016. THIS WAS DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MY FREIND AND FELLOW ROTARIAN, BASSIE KARGBO OF CANSERRA AND THERE IS MORE ON THAT BELOW. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING BASSIE AND THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE AGAIN. IN THE MEANTIME WE WILL ALSO HELP AS MANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES AS WE CAN THROUGH THE SIMPLE ACTION OF GIVING THEM NEW AND USED SOCCER GEAR TO ENJOY. IT IS A SIMPLE MISSION AND IT REAPS WONDERFUL REWARDS.
MORE DETAILS OF OUR RECENT MAKE A GREAT PASS TO SIEERA LEONE PROJECT FOLLOWS BELOW. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED US IN THE PAST AND THOSE WHO WANT TO HELP US IN THE FUTURE.
REGARDS,
DESMOND JORDAN, FOUNDER
MAKE A GREAT PASS - DONATE YOUR USED SOCCER GEAR
WHY FUND US OR HELP US?
Because this is the real deal. I cannot think of another not- for-profit project that I have been involved with that has had a more direct impact on peoples lives in so many different ways. This is real humanitarian help that will empower people in the long term and bring joy in the short term.
This picture above shows a container being packed by volunteers in Oakville, Ontario, Canada in Nov 2016. Bassie and Desmond stopped for a photo when they realized they were going to achieve their goal of getting their first container filled and shipped. The picture above shows the donated gear getting organized in Freetown, Sierra Leone to be distributed throughout the country to the many impoverished communties who have suffered from the past civil war and then the Ebola outbreak.As you can see what started off as an idea to collect and send some soccer gear overseas has grown to become a very personal project for us. My partner in this Africa project, Bassie Kargbo, is a refugee from Sierra Leone who lived through the brutal civil war in that country. With his orphaned brothers and sisters he fled the fighting and, after four countries and four years, they were finally sponsored to come to live safely in Canada.
Bassie is very grateful to his sponsors for rescuing him and his family but he has also never forgotten the less fortunate people of Sierra Leone that he left behind. It is his life's mission to do everything he can to help them. They have suffered greatly but he knows personally that, even in their poverty, they are proud people who want 'a hand-up' more than they want 'a hand-out'. That is what we have set out to do.
starting first with soccer gear anf then expanding to include educational and medical equipement together, Bassie and I collected over $300,000 of new and used donated items from individuals and organizations in Canada. We know these items will be priceless to the people in Sierra Leone who will recieve them.
SOME OF THE ITEMS WE SHIPPED:
20 Beds For An Underfunded Health Care Service
450 Bicycles For A Bicycles 4 Humanity chapter, 1000 Soccer Balls, 2500 Soccer Uniforms, 1000 Cleats & Soccer Coaching Gear and Equipment.
700 Computers For Use in Schools
4000 School Back Packs For Children
2000 Gift Packs for Adults
Tables & Desks for Canserra School
Boxes of Educational Materials and Supplies
400 Sheets, Towels & Blankets
New and Used Clothes and Men and Ladies Shoes
Children's Clothing, Bedding and Soft Toys
WHY SIERRA LEONE?
Aside from Bassie's personal connection to this country, the United Nations Development Program www.slundp.org states that Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world today and that the people are still suffering socially and economically from the civil war that lasted from 1991 to 2002.
The scars from this war run deep, long after the brutality of the events have left our TV screens. Many adults have grown up as orphans, there are still thousands of traumatized former child soldiers, hundreds of amputees, civilian victims of war brutalities and yet more poor, undocumented refugees left from the war in neighbouring Liberia.
WHY SHOULD YOU DONATE TODAY?
Because if you are reading this you are someone who cares. This campaign gives you the opportunity to really help people today who will appreciate it and will use the donations we are sending to improve their own lives and those of others in their community not only today but into the future, by helping to break the cycle of poverty.
The MAKE A GREAT PASS soccer tournaments alone have helped to bring together people of all ages from different villages, tribal groups and religions to enjoy friends and relatives play in the games.
After the civil war, the people of Sierra Leone need opportunities like the these local soccer/football tournaments but to help to re-build trust, peace and togetherness within the country.
HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP US?
We would be grateful for every dollar that you choose to give and we would kindly ask that you share this Make A Great Pass information GoFundMe campaign among your friends, family and your extended social media networks. The link is gofundme.com/makeagreatpass You can contact us through [email redacted]
SOME OF OUR SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS ARE;
CanSerra is Sierra Leone charity that raises funds to operate an elementary and high school in the refugee community of Kissi Town.
Oakville Soccer Club is the largest community based soccer club in North America with 13,500 registered players of all ages.
Burlington Youth Soccer Club
Details to be inserted soon.
Ancaster Soccer Club
Details to be inserted soon
Bicycles For Humanity has chapters all over the world but our supporting partner is Bicycles For Humanity - Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
The Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar is part of the worldwide family of Rotarians who live by the motto of Service Above Self
Apple Self Storage - Oakville, Ontario
Kindly offered temporary storage space for all our donations. Apple Self Storage offers a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor heated units. It also has executive office suites for rent on a monthly basis and boardroom space available for hourly rental.
Organizer
Desmond Jordan
Organizer
Oakville South, ON
