Of the 100,000 footballs already prepared, 30,000 will be delivered to six countries selected for the Hyundai 'Africa Road Tour' of the continent, with the other 70,000 distributed by the UN and other NGOs in several countries and the rest of the one million gradually spread out across Africa throughout the year.
The road tour recently kicked off in Soweto, South Africa at Moletsane Sports Complex at an event attended by 1200 school children who participated in life and soccer skill activities such as a quiz and soccer clinic. Legendary footballer Doctor Khumalo gave the kids a talk about having hopes and dreams as a representative from the UN and Hyundai handed the balls over to the kids.
Following Soweto, further stops will be made in Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria and Morocco before ending in Cairo, Egypt. Hyundai will explain the Dream Ball project along the road, distribute soccer balls and exhibit the company's Goodwill Balls as well as the latest vehicle models. The `Africa Road Tour' will be filmed for a documentary by the National Geographic Channel and aired in Asia and Europe in August or September.
At the launch of the 'One Million Dream Balls for Africa' initiative on the 8 June 2010 at the 'Sports for Peace' UN Gala held at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, Steve S. Yang, handed over the first soccer ball to the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon in a gesture of goodwill between the two parties.
"We wish to convey a message of hope and dreams to children in Africa through this project. As a global company, Hyundai will continue its efforts to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities worldwide," said Yang.
Each ball will bear a donor's name, and anyone who registers as a member of Hyundai's 2010 FIFA World Cup micro-website or anyone buying a Hyundai car from the company's worldwide sales network will be eligible to become a donor. To participate as a donor, go to http://fifaworldcup.hyundai.com/ for more information.
