Young Sony employees will offer their expertise on business administration to select network members. This latest development in the partnership between streetfootballworld and Sony is part of an existing initiative, the Sony Graduate Programme, which enables young professionals at Sony to create business cases with non-profit organisations and help them develop their ideas for income generation.
The application process, which was open to all streetfootballworld network members, was recently concluded with the selection of three organisations that will be supported in the first phase of the programme, starting in January 2010.
A variety of projects will be supported
Dads against Drugs from the UK plans to develop a web-based campaign to highlight issues such as drug abuse, sexual exploitation and the spread of HIV/AIDS involving a virtual ball that will be kicked around the world through text messages sent by users.
Moving the Goalposts from Kenya will receive support for producing and distributing affordable sanitary pads from locally available materials, allowing girls in the rural areas of Kenya to attend school and sporting activities during their period.
Society Empowerment Project from Kenya seeks advice to kick start their idea of selling their expertise in the organisation of football tournaments to companies and other interested institutions.
A partnership on many levels
Initiated in 2008, the partnership between Sony and streetfootballworld is constantly expanding and involves more and more streetfootballworld network members in activities on different levels. Partnerships between local Sony sales companies and streetfootballworld network members have already been established in Germany, the UK and South Africa. In these countries, Sony employees partner with one or several local organisations active in Development through Football in order to provide training in areas such as marketing, PR, organisational development and video techniques. Each partnership is being developed independently by the Sony employees and the staff of the local development organisation and is directly tailored to the respective needs.
Hungary and Serbia on board!
Inspired by these pilot projects and by a meeting of Sony representatives and organisation leaders at the European Street Football Festival in Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina in May 2009, similar partnerships are currently being kicked off in Hungary and Serbia with streetfootballworld network members Oltalom Sports Association and Football Friends, respectively.
Celebrating summer in Berlin with Sony
Sony is also joining forces with the streetfootballworld office in Berlin directly to hold a summer party on August 21st. The celebration will be held in the centre of Berlin with music, food and, of course, a beach football tournament!
