In 2006 a German initiative, created by Kai Hill of a Berlin-based communications agency, was established to give a long-term perspective to 2010 disadvantaged children in South Africa, to coincide with the 2010 World Cup.

Hill is using the young South Africans’ love for soccer to give them a joy for life, and has involved a number of German companies and charity organisations to support his initiatives.   His focus is on children affected by AIDS, and those that are orphans or street children.

“KickAIDS” offers soccer training combined with health training, to enhance the knowledge of young people about AIDS, and to reduce its stigma.   A training facility has been built in Soshanguve, close to Pretoria, to allow 2010 children to be educated.   An agreement was signed with the University of Stellenbosch recently, to allow its sports facilities to be used for the soccer training of disadvantaged children.

The project is receiving good coverage in the German media, including Bunte, Hamburger Abendblatt, Bild, and Der Spiegel, which is good publicity for South Africa.

For more information, see www.stars-of-tomorrow.org

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