Sony’s Earth F.C., a formidable team to be on
Sony is stepping up to the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) plate with the launch of their impressive campaign “Earth F.C.” , a major social investment initiative anchored around the FIFA World Cup Football tournament taking place in South Africa in less than 3 months (woopee!) … let’s not forget Sony is lucky enough to be an ‘official partner’. We’ve had a look at their offering and we must say we approve, it’s creative, well thought through, meaningful, through-the-line and at the same time fun. Good job Sony. Represent! The campaign is made up of three main elements, first, the “Public Viewing in Africa”, a series of awesome public screening areas planned for the colourful West African countries of Ghana and Cameroon (both qualifying countries) where access to TV is limited but soccer is everything. “Sony employees have teamed up with UNDP, JICA and local NGOs [so] our caravan of vehicles can move around the country, setting up big screens in public places like village squares and schools. The live broadcasts will primarily be for matches involving African teams.” Sony have also incorporated an HIV/Aids education drive into the program, offering ‘education, counseling and testing can be offered before the matches and at halftime’. ‘A trial run co-sponsored with JICA in Ghana last year delivered impressive results: 7,200 people took part in the event (five times the normal JICA figure in rural areas) with 1,100 of them getting tested for HIV test (3 times the normal figure). Clearly this approach can increase the reach of HIV/AIDS education.’ JICA and GHANA you can also read more about the Ghana trials here. The second prong consists of a bunch (1000) of ‘ highly durable yet environmentally conscious vegetable-based Join the Team plastic footballs‘ that have been designed by Sony’s engineers with the aim of creating robust footballs suitable for the African terrain and conditions. Sony is hoping to get a million clicks – with every 1000 clicks a ball will be donated. It’s simple, go here and click on Join the Team and play some virtual soccer ball passing around the globe (FYI we were pass number 9359 and 9 balls so far have been donated (it’s the 1st of April 2010)… ) The third part of the program is a little closer to our hearts, as it’s about giving out 15000 tickets to South African kids between the ages of 12 and 15 who would otherwise never be able to afford the matches, we’re not sure how they’re managing this but they will be transporting and looking after them and of course dressing them in specially designed Sony bandanas 😉 There’s...
Busy, buzzing Accra is the place to party!
Ghana is not always on the top of the list of African counties to visit, but more often these days I’m hearing really cool stuff about it. Lerato grooved her way into Accra (the capital city of Ghana) this past holiday and ladies the results on the status of the men in Ghana have been confirmed… so extra, extra, read all about it and eat your hearts out! Before visiting Accra, the thing I wanted to discover the most about the country was what made Rita Marley, the widow of reggae legend Bob Marley, and her family move to Ghana when she could have picked Jamaica or the US where she owns properties? But after spending only four days in Accra, I wonder how anyone could have a piece of the city and want to leave it behind. Now I see that my friends were spot-on. When they heard I was heading for the Ghanaian capital they all responded with a resounding, “Yoho! The men there are hot!” I wish they had not been reserved with the truth. Like most West African men, Ghanaian men are breathtakingly handsome and polite. Life’s good in Accra. By day, the city is a fast-paced haven for entrepreneurs. Even when driving far out of the city to the villages, there are few places where shops and stalls have not been set up. And, be warned, sellers will get the last dollar out of your pocket. My experience of the capital of Kofi Annan’s motherland by night was one of a city that never sleeps. I was in Accra to attend the Catwalk the World fashion show, a fundraising event organised by the United Nations World Food Programme. With the formalities of the trip over on my first night, I let loose, partying and shopping up a storm. My first stop on the city’s party scene was Boomerang nightclub. The parking lot accommodated all sorts of flashy cars. Their owners, no doubt, the sort of people who bling all the way to the bank. Hennessy cognac, Moët & Chandon champagne and Johnnie Walker whisky adorned the bar. And just in case you thought Boomerang was just like any other nightclub, the VIP lounge had a pole in the middle of the dance floor and everyone was welcome to bring it on, which one does in a city of friendly people. For the less racy explorer, which I am by day, Accra’s markets are worth visiting. Every corner is filled with street hawkers and shops. The people are smooth talking and adept at bargaining. Everyone sells something they convince you is a necessity – Lucky...
We will be back!
