Our mission & travels with the Kit Share Project

4-min read.

Hi, everyone. Matt here. This time last year, I was packing a bag for a 12-hour flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh. I described my first trip there in 2018 as an experience of a lifetime. Last year’s topped it. This year poses to be more special still.

Before I go any further, I want to thank every single one of you that has been a part of this story. Your curiosity, your encouragement, your belief in the unknown, and your passion for change has made this such an exciting, rewarding journey for all of us. You are making it possible. You have been the heart of it. You are the fibres of what's to come.

My story is with the Kit Share Project.

We're playing a part in the circular economy and reducing wastage by; 1) collecting used football kits, boots, and equipment from Just Play FC (our London-based football club) and beyond; 2) travelling with the cargo; 3) distributing it in person. The project aims to give new life to these donations and connect you and us, the donors, with a boy, girl or community in Bangladesh.

To go a step further, our mission is to give people the opportunity to come with us and experience life as we don't know it. We want to empower them to take their stories home and spread the ripple of inspiration.

Last year we were thrilled to take Max - a friend and colleague at Just Play FC - and so the story continues…

Max here. I’m so excited to be returning to Bangladesh after an eye-opening experience last time. It was truly surreal to connect with these rural communities, coach and play with them - regardless of a language barrier - and it was all thanks to our shared passion for this funny old game!

It’s a football-crazy country. They have a population of over 150 million. For years they have produced our football kits, boots and balls - facing tragedies in the process - yet they’ve never been able to represent themselves at a World Cup. Their talent was clear to see, but it definitely struck me that, too often, boys and girls are playing barefoot, in unsuitable footwear and on uneven surfaces that our young people in the UK would never think about playing on. Too often these boys and girls can't access organised sport for the same reasons. There is cause for your donations and the vision of the Kit Share Project in allowing these communities to play, and play in a purpose-built arena, something the boys and girls were definitely requesting support for.

This trip, while inspiring me and creating unbelievable memories, stretched me in many other ways for my own personal growth. For example, the interest we received from all echelons of society created multiple opportunities for public speaking that I was so terrified of before. Sharing who I am, what I do and why I was there, often in front of cameras, forced me to strip away the inhibitions that would always get in my way.

I love the approach the Kit Share Project has with sustainability and connecting communities together at its heart. Let it be known, its vision holds for much more excitement. It’s an honour to be a cog in this project, and I’m incredibly grateful to Taff, Matt and all of you for making it a reality.

Max, the honour is ours!

Some of you might be wondering, “Why Bangladesh for you, Matt?”.

Living in London, I’ve known people from across the world. Cue Taff.

When I first visited in 2018, it was because Taff had invited me to come and see his home and be a part of the project first-hand. Despite having friends with backgrounds reaching all across the world, it’s not often that we have the privilege of going back to their roots and feeling the culture. I was curious. Having come here and seen how significant an impact we all can have, it's now more a question of, "Why not?".

So who are we impacting?

The Kit Share Project exists to tackle the challenges and make the game more accessible for remote communities in the region of Moulvibazar, Sylhet; families, neighbourhoods, local sports groups, schools. Last year when setting our fundraising targets, we thought about the challenges the KSP faces. We thought about the costs of storing donations, sending ourselves away for 10 days, and shipping the 200kg+ of packages overseas and across Bangladesh. This year it’s more days and more kilos. Those are the fundamentals, but the mission and its impact doesn’t stop there. With any extra funding, we can buy food for the young people we reach and buy livestock to sustain families.

There is also A Bigger Goal.

Back in 2018, there was a vision.

It was a vision to transform some land into a hub of play and enrichment; into the heartbeat of the community and beyond. A self-sustaining, all-weather pitch with stands and facilities in Moulvibazar - a project that will draw crowds from across Sylhet and transform the region and its possibilities. Bigger still, let this be the first of many. Let this ignite action in others and inspire them to do the same. Let them replicate the model. Let’s be the spark in such arenas existing across the nation, harbouring the essence of community and providing a platform to raise the standard of play.

Gradually, this vision has grown from a bright idea, to fascinating conversations, to an incredible project.

Follow developments and see the fruits of your contributions at kitshareproject.com.

Through our clear, 5-year action plan and the combined efforts of many talented individuals (enter Sameen - introduction to follow soon), we have been able to give this vision life, as you can see in the images above of KSPA 1. Work is already underway.

With your help, we can give back to the same communities that have produced what we've needed to dream and play football over the years. Let’s level the playing field for a boy or girl in Bangladesh to experience the beautiful game, and all that comes with it, in the way that we so fortunately do.

To be a part of our journey and help support us support the project, any contribution would make a big difference.