Football is big in Kenya, but not every child in the country is lucky enough to have a ball to play with. Despite this setback Kenyan kids are creative, especially when football is involved! Taking something they have in abundance in the suburbs of Nairobi – waste plastic – and turn it into footballs has become part of the game for many Kenyan kids. These footballs, hand-made out of used plastic bags and string, are known as ‘juwala’ (waste plastic) balls and one of them has now made an appearance on a big stage in world politics.

UN emphasises the importance of sport for development and peace
During his keynote address at the opening of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Congress in Copenhagen last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon presented an original ‘juwala’ ball from Kenya when he emphasized the importance of the links between sport, development and peace, especially in the slums of Africa.

Ban Ki-Moon’s ‘juwala’ ball was made by Peter Ndolo, a participant of streetfootballworld network member Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA). MYSA is a self-help youth sports and community service organisation working in the Mathare slums in Nairobi and has pioneered the links between sport, environment and development for over two decades.

The ‘juwala’ ball is travelling the world
Peter originally presented his ‘juwala’ ball to Wilfried Lemke, the UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace, who in turn evidently gave the ball to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. After his IOC address, the UN Secretary General passed on the ‘juwala’ ball to IOC President Jacques Rogge who in turn presented the ball to UN Messenger of Peace HRH Princess Haya, the wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Dubai.

HRH Princess Haya will reportedly put the Kenyan ‘juwala’ ball up for sale in a special auction for raising funds to provide financial support to the families of UN personnel who have been killed while performing their official duties in UN humanitarian and peace operations throughout the world.

streetfootballworld and the ‘juwala’ ball
streetfootballworld is not surprised by the popularity of Peter’s ‘juwala’ ball! At streetfootballworld festival 06, celebrated in July 2006 in Berlin, Kenyan ‘juwala’ balls also became a big attraction. Visitors to the festival were shown how to make the plastic balls by the MYSA players and could take home their very own ‘juwala’ ball. Such was the popularity that streetfootballworld produced a give-away postcard with easy-to-follow instructions. Given the profile and deserved new interest in ‘juwala’ balls, we felt that this would be a good moment to share our instructions with you again: Click here to download the instructions and produce the famous ‘juwala’ ball yourself!